Phillip Island, 14 October: In hard fought race Honda LCR rider Carlos Checa finished eleventh in today’s Australian Grand Prix at a sunny Phillip Island circuit. Checa was involved in a tense battle for the top ten, finishing just three seconds out of ninth position just behind Colin Edwards and Marco Melandri.

Checa set his fastest lap time of the weekend, 1.31.751, on lap seven of the 27 race. This was 0.5s faster than qualifying. In a close and fast group Checa moved into tenth on lap eight and ten laps later he was briefly ninth ahead of the Australian pair Ant West and Chris Vermeulen and American Colin Edwards. The race was won by home hero Casey Stoner.

CHECA: Eleventh - Championship: 14th/59 points

CHECA: “The start and opening laps were the best for me and I did my fastest lap of the weekend on lap seven. I was still suffering from a lack of turning, especially in the very fast turn three, plus it was difficult to stay ahead on the front straight. I had a lot of fun in the fight with West, Vermeulen and Edwards, it is more enjoyable than riding alone. The team worked hard to improve the bike but this was the best result possible today.”

In the 250cc Grand Prix Eugene Laverty rode a superb race to finish 16th after starting 24th on the grid. Laverty set his fastest time of the weekend, 1.36.786 on lap ten, an impressive 0.7s faster than qualifying.

LAVERTY: “I’m happy with that result even though I’m just one place out of the points. I got to 15th passing guys through the fast corners and on the brakes at the hairpin but once as tyres dropped off it was difficult to keep that pace, plus I had some pain from my knee which I hurt in training.”