Carlos Checa takes double win at Phillip Island

Spaniard Carlos Checa has dominated the opening two races of the World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island.

The Spaniard rode his Althea Racing Ducati to perfection, kicking off the 2011 season in dominant fashion.

The last time he scored a weekend double was at Imola last September.

In Race 1, Checa took the lead from Eugene Laverty (Yamaha) on Lap 3 and steadily pulled out to an unchallenged four second lead over reigning champ Max Biaggi.

The podium was completed by Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad) who held off both Yamaha World Superbike Team riders Laverty and Marco Melandri.

Laverty continually came off second best during his race long scrap with his team-mate, before brilliantly beating the MotoGP refugee off the final corner to steal the final podium place.

Race 2’s one-two result was the same as Race 1, with Checa leading home Biaggi.

While Checa cleared off, Biaggi held off an eager effort from Melandri, who after the race was visibly delighted with his first weekend as a World Superbike rider.

Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) emerged from a battering and bruising weekend with a fourth place in Race 2, after falling back with a big mistake at Honda Corner in Race 1.

Rea finished ahead of the two Leons, Haslam (BMW Motorrad) and Camier (Aprilia Alitalia).

It was a tough day for the Aussies. Troy Corser finished with the best race result, finishing 10^th in Race 1. The former World Champion ran in the top three early in Race 2, but ran down the escape road at Honda Corner before eventually finishing 19th.

Of the others, Bryan Staring took 15^th and 17^th, Joshua Waters took 18^th and 13^th and Mark Aitchison claimed 19^th and 16^th.