Spanish Althea Ducati rider Carlos Checa has set the fastest time in opening qualifying for Sunday’s opening round of the Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island.

After showing the field a clean pair of heels in morning practice, the world number settled straight back down to business in the 60-minute qualifier, and reeled off a number of blistering laps before setting a best of 1:31.577.

That was more than enough firepower to edge out Frenchman and fellow Ducati rider Sylvain Guintoli, with the top six completed by Northern Ireland’s Eugene Laverty, world champion Max Biaggi, Czech rider Jakub Smrz and Briton Leon Haslam.

Haslam crashed at turn two in the final minutes of the session, and Italian star Michel Fabrizio was another to bite the dust at high speed. Both were uninjured.

For the Australian contingent, 24-year-old Mildura rider Josh Waters again upstaged his more experienced countryman Troy Corser, with the pair finishing 10th and 11th on the time sheets.

Of the other Australians, Pedercini Kawasaki duo Bryan Starring and Mark Aitchison were 16th and 21st respectively.

The second WSBK qualifying session will be held at 10:45am tomorrow, before the final jockeying for grid positions in the popular Superpole format at 3:00pm.

In World Supersport, Australia’s main hope Broc Parkes was seventh in first qualifying, with Frenchman Fabien Foret maintaining his vice-like grip on top spot just ahead of Spain’s David Salom.

The Australian domestic action saw Wayne Maxwell take provisional pole in the Superbikes on debut for Team Honda Racing ahead of teammate Jamie Stauffer and BMW’s Glenn Allerton.

In the Prostock ranks it was Cru Halliday who proved fastest on his Yamaha YZF-R1, that category contested within the Superbike ranks.

Australian Supersport was topped by Team Suzuki’s Brodie Waters, while Mike Jones was fastest in the Superstock field.

Stay tuned for full reports and results to come.