Philip Island, Mar 29: Italy`s Pierfrancesco Chili upstaged World Superbike series leader Neil Hodgson with the fastest lap in the first qualifying session for Sunday`s race in Australia.
Ducati rider Chili set a time of one minute 33.729 seconds on the final lap of the one-hour session, ahead of France`s Regis Laconi (1:33.941).
Britain`s factory Ducati rider Hodgson was third with 1:34.273. The 4.45-km circuit at Phillip Island, near Melbourne, will host Saturday`s superpole qualifying and two 22-lap races on Sunday.
"I honestly didn`t believe I`d be in top position after today`s session," said Chili. "The set-up of my bike wasn`t quite right on my fast lap, plus I made a little mistake, and the wind was quite strong in a couple of the fast corners. "I don`t think the factory Ducatis will have the same advantage here as they did at the first round in Spain a few weeks ago."



Championship favourite Hodgson won both opening rounds in Valencia on 2 March.



Results from first qualifying at Phillip Island: 1 Pierfrancesco Chili (Ita) Ducati 1min 33.729secs 2 Regis Laconi (Fra) Ducati 1:33.941 3 Neil Hodgson (Gbr) Ducati 1:34.273 4 Troy Corser (Aus) Petronas Foggy 1:34.508 5 Lucio Pedercini (Ita) Ducati 1:34.572 6 Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati 1:34.585 7 James Toseland (Gbr) Ducati 1:34.661 8 Juan Bautista Borja (Spa) Ducati 1:34.760 9 Gregorio Lavilla (Spa) Suzuki 1:34.811 10 Chris Walker (Gbr) Ducati 1:34.906


Bureau Report