Two Ducatis led the way in first qualifying session for the Czech Republic round at Brno, the quickest being the Althea Racing machine of points leader Carlos Checa.

The Spaniard’s time of 1:59.322 was a couple of tenths quicker than the one recorded by the next man, home favourite Jakub Smrz on the all-Czech Effenbert-Liberty Racing 1098R.

Another manufacturer pairing, this time from the Yamaha World Superbike Team, made up the provisional front row of the grid, Italian Marco Melandri just a fraction ahead of his teammate Eugene Laverty.

Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) was next up in fifth place, the Italian as always opting to dedicate Friday to obtaining the best set-up for his bike. More is expected of Biaggi at his all-time favourite circuit for tomorrow and Sunday.

Tom Sykes had a good run near the end of qualifying to post sixth place on his Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike machine, with Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) right behind.

Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstare) completed the overnight second row, while the top 10 was completed by Sylvain Guintoli (Effenbert-Liberty Ducati) and Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team).

Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia) was 11th, just over a second from Checa, with Ducati privateer Maxime Berger (Supersonic Ducati) 12th.

After participating in the morning’s free practice session, Badovini’s regular team-mate James Toseland preferred to sit things out for the rest of the weekend due to his still recovering wrist, and his place was again taken by Lorenzo Lanzi.

Lorenzo went 14th in his first session on the machine, just one place behind Noriyuki Haga (Pata Aprilia). Mark Aitchison had a good first day on his Pedercini Kawasaki, as he was the last rider in the top 15, from a field of 22.

Falls in the unofficial opening session from Kawasaki Racing Team riders Joan Lascorz and Chris Vermeulen held back their efforts in first qualifying, with Lascorz 19th and Vermeulen 20th.

Alex Lowes, riding as a replacement for the injured Jonathan Rea in the Castrol Honda team, was 21st today, his first day in the WSBK class.

Aussie Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com) set the quickest time of 2:03.611 in Supersport qualifying at Brno, confirming the positive trend for the Spanish-run team.

Second place behind Parkes went to Britain’s Gino Rea after a great performance on his Step Racing Honda CBR600RR, with another Honda, that of Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate) was in third.

Parkes’ countryman Mitch Pirotta was 36th fastest aboard the Kuja Racing Honda.

The Superstock 1000 class saw Aussie Bryan Staring in 13th, while Beau Beaton was 21st on debut at Brno.

The first European Superstock 600 Championship qualifying session at Brno saw Aussie Jed Metcher (MTM-RT Motorsports Yamaha) in fifth.

Rookie Adrian Nestorovic was 12th, while debutant Matt Davies was 24th in his first competitive outing on a 600.

2011 Superbike World Championship
Round Eight – Brno, Czech Republic

Friday Qualifying:
1. Carlos CHECA, 1:59.322
2. Jakub SMRZ, 1:59.585
3. Marco MELANDRI, 1:59.653
4. Eugene LAVERTY, 1:59.906
5. Max BIAGGI, 1:59.940
6. Tom SYKES, 2:00.154
7. Leon HASLAM, 2:00.164
8. Michel FABRIZIO, 2:00.196
9. Sylvain GUINTOLI, 2:00.310
10. Ayrton BADOVINI, 2:00.348
11. Leon CAMIER, 2:00.440
12. Maxime BERGER, 2:00.463
13. Noriyuki HAGA, 2:00.494
14. Lorenzo LANZI, 2:00.580
15. Mark AITCHISON, 2:00.604
16. Ruben XAUS, 2:00.681
17. Roberto ROLFO, 2:00.793
18. Matteo BAIOCCO, 2:00.970
19. Joan LASCORZ, 2:00.980
20. Chris VERMEULEN, 2:01.503