Biaggi Amongst Winners in Oz

Max Biaggi of Italy claimed the season-opening World Superbike race at Philllip Island from compatriot Marco Melandri after the reigning champion, Carlos Checa, crashed out in dramatic fashion.

The Italian bounced back in race two, claiming second after dropping to last in a heart-stopping moment on the first lap.

Biaggi was challenging Tom Sykes for the lead at turn one when he was forced wide, running off the track at more than 250kph before rejoining dead last.

With Biaggi out of the way Rea took the lead on lap two but was soon passed by race one crasher Carlos Checa on lap five.

Guintoli crashed out of seventh on lap 10, helping Biaggi’s climb back through the field as Marco Melandri passed Eugene Laverty for sixth.

Juan Lascorz joined the ever-growing list of retirees on lap 11 as Biaggi jumped to sixth ahead of Aprilia teammate Laverty and set his sights on the BMW of fellow Italian Melandri.

Biaggi went by Tom Sykes on lap 17 and the two traded blows over the next lap and a half before the Italian managed to gap the Kawasaki and chase down Jonathan Rea – passing the Honda rider with three laps remaining.

Biaggi couldn't hunt down Checa though, who recovered from a horror crash early in the day to win race two while Tom Sykes reclaimed the final podium spot from Rea in the dying stages.

It was a tough day for the Aussies with Mark Aitchison crashed out on lap two while David Johnson retired with a mechanical issue halfway through the race.

Kawasaki's Bryan Staring finished 16th behind compatriot Josh Brookes aboard a Suzuki.

Checa was ejected from his Ducati exiting the final corner on lap five at more than 180kph and was lucky to walk away.

After starting on pole Tom Sykes led early aboard his Kawasaki but faded to finish fourth behind Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli.

But ride of the race belongs to Marco Melandri who wrestled his under-done BMW from 13th on the grid to a sensational second position.

Bryan Staring was the first of the Aussies home in 10th aboard his Team Pedercini Kawasaki.

Kenan Sofuoglu has claimed a World Supersport race marred by a multi-bike crash on lap one.

A Yamaha rider appeared to lose control of his machine on the run into MG Corner, sliding down the hill and bringing down several other riders. None of the riders involved were seriously injured in the crash.

Aussie Broc Parkes was sixth early in the race and began to push with four laps remaining, climbing to fourth behind Fabien Foret, Jules Cluzel and Kenan Sofuoglu with one lap remaining.

Parkes passed teammate Cluzel for third on the final lap as the two Kawasaki riders Foret and Sofuoglu battled for the win - with Sofuoglu holding off the Frenchman.

The second Aussie in the race, Jed Metcher, was egded out of a top-10 position on the line and finished 11th.

NI Superbike Duo Set for Phillip Island

Northern Ireland's Jonathan Rea and Eugene Laverty will both be looking to put injuries behind them when they compete this weekend in the 2012 Superbike World Championship in Australia.

Toomebridge's Laverty, racing for Aprilia, suffered a fracture to his left hand in a practice session crash at the Phillip Island circuit last week.

But he now looks set to be back in action, after flying a specialist from Northern Ireland to Australia to help speed his recovery.

"Fortunately, we've had more than a week off the bike which has allowed the hand to improve a huge amount - I feel confident that I'll be fit to ride, but I guess I'll have to wait until Friday to find out," Laverty said.

"Honestly I feel that Carlos Checa and my teammate Max (Biaggi) are out of reach unless I'm 100%, but it won't stop me from trying!"

Meanwhile, Honda rider Rea will be hoping for more success this season than last - when he was sidelined for two months with wrist, arm and collarbone injuries - although he did go on to pick up two wins and finish with an encouraging double podium at Portimão,

"It's been really good just being on track with the others and I'm really enjoying riding the bike," the Ballyclare man said.

"I can really feel what the bike's doing and the electronics are working really well. I'm looking forward to Friday's sessions."

But the 25-year-old insists there's still work to be done if the team are to challenge the Althea Ducati team's defending champion, Spaniard Carlos Checa.

"We're where we kind of expected to be and we know that to win here is going to be a very big task," Rea said.

"Carlos is riding very well and consistently, but we're still changing things on the bike because I'm still not 100% satisfied with the set-up."

Checa remains among the front-runners - along with top rivals Max Biaggi (Laverty's Aprilia teammate) and BMW's Marco Melandri - despite his Ducati carrying a 6kg handicap in an effort to limit its superiority.

American John Hopkins will be out through injury, while British rider Leon Haslam is also a doubt.

Hopkins is recovering from surgery on a fracture to his right hand, just weeks after having part of a finger on the same hand amputated.

Haslam has also undergone surgery on a fractured tibia sustained in a crash earlier this week.