Checa and Parkes the best in the warm up at Phillip Island

The World Superbikes and Supersport are about to take to the track for the first event of the 2012 season, but first they have had the warm up at Phillip Island Circuit to get everything ready for the first races of the year.

Carlos Checa has dominated the Superbike warm up at the Australian track, setting a 1.31.582 on his 7 bike, leaving his nearest rival, Tom Sykes, more than half a second behind. A strong showing from the 2011 world champion, who is clearly ready to keep causing trouble in every race despite the added weight on his machine.

Completing the top five were Michel Fabrizio in 3rd, nearly a second off Checa’s time, Joan Lascorz in 4th, who once again showed that 2012 is going to be his year and that the Kawasaki is in good shape, although 0.967s behind Carlos; while Sylvain Guintoli was 5th.

The other Spanish rider, David Salom, finished 19th. It is clear the Mallorcan is not physically at his best, but he is giving everything with his Kawasaki from the Pedercini Team, finishing more than 2 seconds off the time set by Checa at the Australian track.

In Supersport, the best of the warm up was Broc Parkes, the number 0 rider remains dominant, setting a 1.34.847, while his main rival, Fabien Foret, finished more than half a second behind the Australian, and completing the top three was Sam Lowes, just over six tenths back. The number 23 set a good time in this warm up ahead of the race at Phillip Island.

The top five was completed by Leonov in 4th and Kenan Sofuoglu, both almost a second off Parkes’s time. An very exciting race is certainly in store for us in this first taste of the championship.

Now on to the races in Australia.

Photo | WorldSBK