Carlos Checa makes a statement in QP1 at Brno in the Superbikes

Rider Carlos Checa has set the fastest time in the first official practice session of the Superbike World Championship at the Brno circuit. The Catalan remains unstoppable and was the quickest on Biaggi’s home turf.

The championship leader continues to show he is highly competitive, setting a 1:59.322 to take the best time in the official practice session at the Czech track, and lowering his lap time considerably in the final corners.

Behind the 7 bike, the home rider Jakub Smrz has placed second, just 0.263s off Checa’s time. He has shown he is one of the fastest riders and certainly one of the favourites heading into the second session, QP2, and tomorrow’s Superpole at Brno.

Completing the leading trio is Marco Melandri. The Italian stayed very close to the front-runners’ times and set strong laps with his Yamaha, so he also joins the list of contenders at the Czech circuit.

Further back, Eugene Laverty finished fourth and Max Biaggi fifth. The Italian does not seem to have found the feeling with his Aprilia or with the track, or perhaps both. Still, it was not a bad session, and he was the last rider to get under 2:00.

The final top ten was Tom Sykes in sixth, Leon Haslam in seventh, Michel Fabrizio in eighth, Sylvain Guintoli in ninth and Badovini in tenth.

As for the Spanish riders, Checa is 1st, while Rubén Xaus was 16th and Joan Lascorz 19th at Brno.

Now we have to wait for QP2, the free practice and the Superpole.

Photo | WorldSBK