Second day of qualifications for the Althea Racing team in Australia. The morning qualifying session commenced on a dry track with grey, cloudy skies overhead in Phillip Island. Moreover this morning Carlos Checa was the fastest rider on track (1’32”227). He entered the Superpole in first position with yesterday’s fastest lap time because today’s contrary weather conditions didn’t allow Carlos to improve his yesterday’s best time. After yesterday’s big crash, today Shane Byrne showed courage and determination, ending the qualifying session in twelfth position. In afternoon free practice both Althea team riders were able to work on their bike setting and once again Checa reached first position, improving his morning best lap time (1’32”014) Shakey ended the free session in eleventh place (1’33”413). In the first Superpole outing Checa was fourth (1’32”124) while Byrne unfortunately, did not enter the second session obtaining only the seventeenth position (1’32”823). The injury that he sustained to his back during yesterday’s qualifying session remains sore, and prevented him from performing to his maximum level. In second Superpole phase, Checa scored the third lap time (1’31”748) while in the third and final session he continued to improved his lap time (1’31”671) reaching a final fourth place. First row for him and fifth row for injured Byrne in tomorrow’s first two races of the 2010 Superbike world championship.

Qualifying session : 1) Checa (Ducati) – 2) Fabrizio (Ducati) – 3) Haslam (Suzuki) – 4) Crutchlow (Yamaha) – 5) Guintoli (Suzuki) – 6) Toseland (Yamaha) – 7) Rea (Honda) …….. 12) Byrne (Ducati)

Superpole : 1) Haslam (Suzuki) – 2) Fabrizio (Ducati) – 3) Crutchlow (Yamaha) – 4) Checa (Ducati) – 5) Guintoli (Suzuki) – 6) Smrz (Ducati) – 7) Rea (Honda) – 8) Toseland (Yamaha)……….18) Byrne (Ducati)

Carlos Checa :”I’m happy with today’s qualifying sessions and with my Superpole, because we fought for the pole position since the last few minutes of the last Superpole session. Like the last test in Portimao, today as well I was not able to take advantage from the qualifying tires. Anyway I’m satisfied because we are close to the fastest riders, and because today I also found a fast rhythm rather quickly. Tomorrow I’ll start from the first row and this is an important result for me and for my team, I want to thank all of them for the great job they’re doing”.

Shane Byrne :”Obviously I’m really very disappointed. I had a big crash yesterday and today it seems difficult for me to find the rhythm of my previous test. In Superpole we used qualifying tires to try to get through, but something was wrong because the tires have less grip than the usual race tire. I know tomorrow’s races will be very difficult for me. I’ll be starting from the fifth row and it won’t be easy, but I’ll try to do my best and I hope to reach good results”.

Genesio Bevilacqua – General manager :”I’m very satisfied because it was the first Superpole for our team in the Superbike world championship and Carlos will start tomorrow from the first row of the grid. For sure without yesterday’s crash, Shakey could also have started from a better position as both our riders remained in the top position during all practices and qualifying sessions. This is the best reward for all our team for the great job done during the weekend. If we continue to work in this manner, I think we’ll be able to reach good results in tomorrow’s races and also in the championship standing”.

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