Australia victorious in Superbike Sheep Round-Up

The countdown is underway for the Australian Round at Phillip Island, which marks the start of the 2012 FIM Superbike World Championship this weekend.

Media day today was traditionally dedicated to the official presentation of the event at Phillip Island, a circuit that celebrates its 60 years of activity this year. Top riders and media were invited to ‘Granny's Shed', a characteristic farmhouse in the middle of the Island's countryside close to the circuit.

After arriving on tractors and quad bikes, world champion Carlos Checa and his adversaries took part in a press conference before moving outside for the International Sheep Rally Round Up, which involved rallying 12 sheep from one pen, and then separating them into two separate paddocks.

For the record the win went to the Australia A team of Joshua Brookes (stand-in for the injured John Hopkins), Supersport's Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) and Jed Metcher (Rivamoto Junior Team Yamaha) with a new ‘sheep' record of 1 minute 34.2 seconds. Second was the European squad of Checa, Max Biaggi and Marco Melandri, but a full minute behind with their flock of sheep.