Laconi leads Oz first qualifying

Regis Laconi heads the timesheets after first qualifying at Phillip Island in Australia on Friday, March 26.

The Frenchman has returned to form after a disappointing opening round of the series by posting a time of 1:34.068 to head Australian riders Garry McCoy and Steve Martin. Noriyuki Haga is fifth, and the three British riders are grouped together in ninth, tenth and eleventh, with Leon Haslam heading James Toseland and Chris Walker. Toseland actually crashed in the free practice session earlier in the day, but still managed a time of 1:35.752 in the qualifying session.

Australia First Qualifying:

1) Laconi 1:34.068. 2) McCoy 1:34.494. 3) Martin 1:35.028. 4) Borciani 1:35.080. 5) Haga 1:35.346. 6) Pedercini 1:35.443. 7) Vermuelen 1:35.614. 8) Chili 1:35.633. 9) Haslam 1:35.743. 10) Toseland 1:35.752. 11) Walker 1:35.832. 12) Corser 1:35.871. 13) Clementi 1:35.935. 14) Sanchini 1:35.936. 15) Nannelli 1:36.017. 16) Bontempi 1:37.016. 17) Fuertes 1:37.187. 18) Nowland 1:38.745. 19) Velini 1:39.082. 20) Mrkyvka 1:40.564. 21) Praia 1:41.182.