Gobert faster than Fogarty

Motorcycling

Carl Fogarty, already crowned World Superbike champion, was fourth fastest in the first timed practice for tomorrow's 12th round at Phillip Island, Australia. The Blackburn-based rider clocked 1min 36.223sec on his Ducati - less than a second behind Anthony Gobert, who was quickest. Another Briton, John Reynolds, was fifth fastest.

Gobert, riding a Muzzy Kawasaki, had been second in the untimed morning session but improved dramatically in the afternoon. His time of 1:35.583 was only fractionally outside the lap record set by Fogarty last year. Aaron Slight (Honda RC45) is second fastest with Troy Corser (Ducati) third. "I expected Fogarty to be faster than he was, but I'm sure that tomorrow he'll improve his time," Gobert said.