Carlos Checa has become the first rider to score a World Superbike clean sweep at Phillip Island since 2008 when he scythed through today’s second 22-lap race.

After he pushed aside an early challenge from Briton Leon Haslam, the Ducati-backed Checa seized total control to complete a perfect start to the season for the world number three.

The last rider to win both races at a Phillip Island World Superbike round was Australia’s Troy Bayliss.

International riders have now won 18 races at Phillip Island during the WSBK era, closing in fast on the Australian total of 23.

Despite easing right off in the last few laps, Checa still won by a comfortable 1.188 seconds over world champion Max Biaggi, who outlasted his Italian countryman Marco Melandri after a race-long scrap.

A resurgent Jonathan Rea was fourth, a massive eight-spot improvement on race one, with the Briton just getting the better of BMW’s Leon Haslam.

Biaggi’s teammate Leon Camier was sixth, ahead of fellow Aprilia rider Noriyuki Haga and Suzuki’s Michel Fabrizio.

Josh Waters was the best of the Australians in 12th on his Suzuki, while Troy Corser’s rotten day continued when he ran off at turn four after hitting neutral, and then plummeted through the pack in the final stages with a complete lack of grip. He finished out of the points in 19th.

Corser now heads into round two at Donington next month in 14th position in the championship on just six points, with Checa leading on a maximum 50 ahead of Biaggi (40), Melandri (27), Haslam (27) and Fabrizio (18).

Stay tuned for a full report to come later this evening.