2011 World Superbike - Phillip Island Photo Gallery

Leon Cameier struggled from the flu during Friday's qualifying and placed 16th on the timesheets.

Carlos Checa remains the man to beat in Australia after setting the best lap during Friday's qualifying.

Yamaha's Eugene Laverty took third in the timesheets during his first qualifying run in World Superbike.

Ten Kate Honda's Fabian Foret snagged the leading laptime during the first World Supersport qualifying session of 2011.

Jakob Smrz - 2011 Phillip Island World Superbike

Jonathan Rea earned the ninth-best lap on Friday behind Kawasaki's Joan Lascorz.

Castrol Honda's Ruben Xaus - Phillip Island 2011

Honda's Ruben Xaus was more than 1.8 seconds off the pace of Checa during Friday's qualifying at Phillip Island.

Michel Fabrizio: "I feel pretty happy with my seventh today, especially when you consider how close the lap times are. Just three-tenths faster and I would've finished second quickest today, so I know that we are in contention. I would've felt even happier, but I had a little crash towards the end of this afternoon's qualifying session when I lost the front going into turn two. It happened so quickly that I didn't have time to recover."

Parkalgar Honda's Sam Lowes earned the third-quickest lap on Friday and was 0.784 seconds adrift of Foret.

Marco Melandri: “It was a very bad day [Friday] for me today everything seemed to be going wrong. Definitely a no meaning day, I will start fresh tomorrow! I lost the front when I was trying a harder front tyre, I had no feeling in it and suddenly it was just gone. Tomorrow we will go for a different tyre and a set up we know so we should be much better, I am confident we will be up there."

Castrol Honda's Jonathan Rea - Phillip Island 2011

Aprilia's Max Biaggi saw dramatic improvement from his RSV4 and posted the second-best lap during Superpole.

Leon Camier: "It's frustrating not being able to ride, especially for the first race. Quite simply my cough and general weariness hinder my concentration and consequently from focusing on what I'm doing. At the moment the fever is not the biggest problem, but I feel very tired and even just walking I'm not able to breathe properly, so just imagine after 3-4 laps."

Jakub Smrz - 2011 Phillip Island World Superbike

Ducati's Carlos Checa got down to business by grabbing the fastest lap ever recorded at Phillip Island to claim the first Superpole of 2011.

Superpole podium at Phillip Island (from left to right): Max Biaggi, Carlos Checa and Sylvain Guintoli.

Carlos Checa (#7) posted two solid performances at Phillip Island to secure the double victory ahead of Max Biaggi.

Max Biaggi (#1) held off Marco Melandri during the final stages of Race 2.

Max Biaggi: "The results today were truly beautiful, especially if we think about how we were last year and the year before. It has been no secret that this track has always put us in a difficult place, but this time we worked hard to prepare as best as possible and I can truly say that we succeeded, also considering the fast lap that we earned in both races."

Aprilia's Leon Camier (#2) was able to minimize the damage in Race 2 after climbing up to sixth place while struggling with the flu.

James Toseland: ""After the start in Race 2 I thought I could get in the top-10. We changed the set-up after Race 1 and the bike was handing well. I can only think of Race 1 as a test but it was important to test the two set-ups.”

BMW's James Toseland (#52) suffered a series of off-track excursions during Race 1 which forced him to finish in 17th.

Troy Corser: "We started the race well, I felt good on the bike, but sadly I found a false neutral going into Honda corner and I went off the track. I rejoined down the field and then really struggled for grip. As the race progressed the tire became really worn and I was losing traction everywhere, I simply couldn’t do the times I wanted."

Leon Haslam: "As a team we have made huge steps forward from two weeks ago. We still have some issues that need looking at in more detail to ensure we can become regular podium finishers, but on the whole we should be happy with the two races."

BMW's Leon Haslam claimed third during the first contest, giving the German team renewed faith for the 2011 season.

Parkalgar Honda's Sam Lowes earned third during his debut season in the World Supersport Championship.

Eugene Laverty: “In the first race I had problems with arm pump and had just to sit there, I had the possibility to go third but didn’t want to risk my arms. I got it fixed at Clinica, it was just really stiff after five days riding on a Superbike this week. Marco upped the pace in second race; it would have been tough to beat, but there was a definite fourth there for me. Unfortunately two false neutrals killed the race leaving me with one point."

Michel Fabrizio: "I am happy and I am not so happy. I am happy because I was able to fight with the top guys in both races and that is a great boost to my confidence. I didn't know exactly what to expect in my first race with Team Suzuki Alstare and it was good to be able to battle for the podium in the first race. Maybe if I had made a good start in that race, I might have ended up on the podium. Instead, I found myself 11th at the end of lap one and then had to fight through the pack and that's not easy because there are so many good riders and good bikes."

Sylvain Guintoli - 2011 Phillip Island World Superbike

Jonathan Rea: "I am kind of annoyed at myself for out-braking myself in race one, but I just had no strength in my hands. I got a really bad start in race two, and got messed up by another rider in turn two. I lost a load of places and then passed Nori, who passed me back. He had more grip than me at that point of the race. I am not strong right now but I was fitter than anyone at the end and I could keep the lap time. I was into the 1’33s until I caught Haslam and Fabrizio; then took time to catch my breath. When I got behind Leon Haslam I could have passed him but kept it for the last lap to make it count, and got fourth."

Yamaha's Marco Melandri (#33) went 5-3 during his debut performance in World Superbike.

Kawasaki's Joan Lascorz (#17) and Tom Sykes.

2011 World Superbike - Phillip Island Photo Gallery

See photos from Round 1 of the 2011 World Superbike Series at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia.