Jonathan Rea dominates the SBK QP 1 at Phillip Island (Australia)

Rider Jonathan Rea was the first to set times in the Superbike World Championship QP, so after the first free practice came the moment of truth at Phillip Island, the first qualifying session of the 2012 season. Everyone wanted to start strong, and for now the fastest was Honda, who set a 1:31.959 after 17 laps of the Australian track.

The Briton managed to be the quickest, setting that time at the end of the session and becoming the only rider on the grid to get under 1:32, so good feelings for the 65 who starts this highly competitive Superbike season with desire and strength. Behind him, Jakub Smrz, of Ducati, dominated the final part of this first QP but could not improve on Rea’s times, finishing 0.157s back after 18 laps and a lot of hard work.

Completing the top 3 was Davide Giugliano, teammate in the box and team of Superbike World Champion Checa, who showed he arrives with determination and set the best time in the final moments of the session. He was later overtaken by the leaders, but he was the first to take the position from the 7, who until then had controlled the QP runs, so his 1:32.198 opened the doors to the front positions. Just behind the 34, Carlos Checa was placed. The champion was the fastest for much of the qualifying, but when about 15-10 minutes remained he saw the others attack and set good times, pushing the 7 down to 4th place with a 1:32.228 he had set at the start of the session.

Behind them were Max Biaggi, who was 5th and close to his main rival, Checa, while the rest of the Spanish riders placed 8th Joan Lascorz, and 17th David Salom. It was a difficult day for both. The Kawasaki Racing Team rider suffered a small crash at the start of the qualifying run; luckily it seems to be nothing serious, while the Pedercini rider still has a lot of discomfort in the area affected by his injury and has to suffer at Phillip Island.

Apart from Lascorz’s scare, there were others. On one hand, Eugene Laverty seems to have crashed, so bad news for the rider returning, as well as Leon Haslam, after their respective operations. A crash could have been fatal; for now we know he was taken to the medical centre after the incident. Berger also crashed at turn 1, while Giugliano and Smrz ran wide at the turn 4 area, but without further problems.

A complex session, the first in which they give their maximum. Tomorrow the second QP will take place, and later the Superpole. We already have the excitement of Superbike in action.

SBK Australia QP 1 Times: