Phillip Island, 12 October: Cold and changeable spring weather was the main factor in today’s opening free practice for the Australian Grand Prix, with Honda LCR rider Carlos Checa finishing an impressive seventh overall. Checa posted his fastest lap of 1’32.182 in the afternoon session, improving his time by two seconds from the rain-hit morning session.

Some light rain fell briefly again in the afternoon although the conditions remained cool despite the delayed appearance of the sun at Phillip Island. The track temperature was just 20 degrees, with the low temperatures and reduced dry track time making it difficult to fully assess tyres and set-up for Sunday’s 27 lap race. Casey Stoner set the fastest time today.

CHECA: Seventh overall - 1’32.182

CHECA: “The main problem today was the weather, in the these cold and unpredictable condition it is not easy to get the correct feeling with the bike and tyres. We tested here in January when it was much hotter so that information is not really useful now. In these temperatures only the softest compound tyre is working so there are limited options within the tyre rules. With the set-up we need to improve the turning, especially when opening he throttle through the faster corners. At the moment i would prefer it to be dry because we are struggling with our set-up in the rain.”

Unfortunately in qualifying for the 250cc grand prix electrical problems delayed Eugene Laverty who was sable to complete only four laps in the qualifying session.

LAVERTY: “Hopefully we can fix the problems for tomorrow, the bike was cutting on the straights and through the left-hand turns, it was strange, and with the rain and strong winds I didn’t really get a chance for any fast laps.”