Carlos Checa rode a superb race as the Ducati Marlboro Team's lone rider at Phillip Island today, the Spaniard taking a last-gasp third place by using his Desmosedici's awesome horsepower to draft past Marco Melandri in the run to the finish line. Team-mate Loris Capirossi was unable to take part due to injuries sustained in a crash during Friday morning practice.

"Losing Loris on Friday was a real blow to the team but Carlos did a great job today," said Ducati MotoGP project manager Livio Suppo. "In fact he has done a great job all weekend, running fast and consistent in practice to make sure he had the best bike/tyre package for the race. His start today was pretty good but in the race he couldn't run the pace he'd run yesterday and in morning warm-up. Later on he came back strong and it was great to see Ducati power in action! Our thanks to everyone back at Ducati and also at Shell Advance because they make sure we have the horsepower we need. Thanks also to Bridgestone, because once again they gave us great tyres."



CHECA: 'TASTES LIKE VICTORY'
Carlos Checa scored his second podium result in three races at Phillip Island this afternoon, claiming that the result tasted as good as a victory. The Ducati Marlboro Team man had to work extra hard for his ticket to the champagne podium ceremony after running fourth for much of the race.The pair passed three times on the final lap, Checa ahead at Turn One, Melandri returning the compliment at Honda corner, Checa finally drafting past in the dash to the chequered flag.

"First, I want to dedicate this result to Loris," said Checa, who had his 33rd birthday yesterday. "It's been a different weekend working alone but I'm quite satisfied with the work we've done. After practice we expected a good result, though in the race I couldn't run the pace I'd run yesterday and in morning warm-up. When I got close to Melandri I could see my bike was better in some areas, but we weren't so strong on braking, so it was tough to pass. This is the first time I've scored a result that way, it was exciting, I couldn't believe it. It's been a funny weekend numbers-wise - I was 33 yesterday, I had the highest top speed here at 333km, I was fighting with Melandri whose number is 33 and I finished third. Tonight, I suppose, there will be a party."

CAPIROSSI TO FLY TO EUROPE TONIGHT
Loris Capirossi was ruled out of today's Australian GP when he crashed heavily at Turn One on Friday. He sustained chest injuries in the fall, with internal bleeding around his right lung. Since then the Ducati Marlboro Team rider has been recovering in Melbourne's Cabrini hospital and he's now been passed fit to fly home to Europe. He will fly with a chest drain attached to drain the bleeding.

"The doctors decided it is best for Loris to fly home tonight," said Livio Suppo. "He will fly with Dr Corbascio, from the Clinica Mobile, and should meet Dr Claudio Costa tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully the chest drain will be taken off soon because it's causing him some pain. Otherwise he feels good and doesn't have any other injuries. For sure he will miss Turkey, but it's too early to talk about Valencia."