Spaniard Carlos Checa has enjoyed the perfect start to his 2011 Wold Superbike campaign, winning races one and two of the season for Ducati Althea at the flowing Victorian venue.

Checa simply took his opposition to the sword, and the clinical manner in which he claimed his sixth and seventh WSBK victories has set the Spaniard up for his best ever year in the production-based championship.

Italy’s world champion Max Biaggi (Aprilia) completed the quinella in both races, while Briton Leon Haslam (BMW) and MotoGP convert Marco Melandri (Yamaha) claimed the final spots on the podium.

“It has just been the perfect week, from the beginning of testing last Monday and Tuesday until today,” said Checa. “I’ve had a strong pace the whole time, but you just never know what’s going to happen until the real action begins.

“Certainly, it may have been a bit boring for the spectators to see me out front by myself, but it was the best strategy to put in place and the 50 points is just brilliant.”

The last rider to win both races at a Phillip Island WSBK round was Australia’s Troy Bayliss. And with Checa’s latest demolition, it’s now officially the longest period that a local rider has gone without a win at Phillip Island since the WSBK title first visited the seaside circuit in 1990.

It was a trying day for the Australian WSBK riders at Phillip Island, particularly for major hopes Troy Corser (BMW) and Josh Waters (Suzuki), who both ran into some major bother.

Corser was 10th and 19th, while Waters finished with an 18-12 scorecard as he suffered a deflating front tyre in race one.

But the news was much better in World Supersport, with Newcastle’s Broc Parkes (Kawasaki) second in the hotly contested 21-lapper – his best ever result at Phillip Island.

Perth’s Bryan Staring, a wildcard alongside Waters, was 15th on his Kawasaki in race one, three spots ahead of Waters and four in advance of Gosford’s Mark Aitchison (Kawasaki).

Waters had earlier run off the track on lap four, with former world champion James Toseland (BMW) also caught out as collateral damage.

Former ASBK title winner Waters was the best of the Australians in race two with a 13th, while Corser’s hapless day continued when he ran off and then tumbled through the pack in the final stages.

“We started the race well and I felt good on the bike, but sadly I found a false neutral going into turn four and left the track,” lamented Corser. “I rejoined down the field and then really struggled for grip.

“As the race progressed the tyre became really worn and I was losing traction everywhere – I simply couldn’t do the times I wanted. We have identified some points that need addressing before Donington Park, but for sure I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Checa sits on a maximum 50pts ahead of Biaggi (40), Melandri (27), Haslam (27) and Fabrizio (18). Corser already has a major challenge on his hands after grafting out just six points at Phillip Island.

Round two of the championship will be held at Donington from 25-27 March, where Australian Chris Vermeulen is expected to compete after sitting out round one to allow his injured left knee more time to recover.

Superbike World Championship
Round One – Phillip Island, VIC

Superbike Race One Results:
1.  Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 34’16.503 
2.  Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) 34’20.868 
3.  Leon Haslam  (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 34’27.222 
4.  Eugene Laverty  (Yamaha World Superbike Team) 34’27.769
5.  Marco Melandri  (Yamaha World Superbike Team) 34’27.796 
6.  Michel Fabrizio  (Team Suzuki Alstare) 34’28.542 
7.  Jakub Smrz  (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) 34’36.797 
8.  Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike) 34’37.245 
9.  Noriyuki Haga (PATA Racing Team Aprilia) 34’38.924 
10.  Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 34’42.325 
15.  Bryan Staring (Team Pedercini) 34’52.973 
18.  Joshua Waters (Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team) 35’16.815 
19.  Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini) 35’16.819

Superbike Race Two Results:
1.  Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 34’15.041 
2.  Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) 34’16.229 
3.  Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team) 34’16.447
4.  Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) 34’25.604 
5.  Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 34’25.926 
6.  Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) 34’31.955 
7.  Noriyuki Haga(PATA Racing Team Aprilia) 34’32.599 
8.  Michel Fabrizio (Team Suzuki Alstare) 34’32.720 
9.  Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike) 34’33.111 
10.  Ruben Xaus (Castrol Honda) 34’34.094
13.  Joshua WatersSuzuki (Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team) 34’38.997 
16.  Mark AitchisonKawasaki (Team Pedercini) 34’48.267 
17.  Bryan StaringKawasaki (Team Pedercini) 34’57.639 
19.  Troy CorserBMW S1000 (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 35’10.779