Leon Haslam (AFP)

Phillip Island - Britain's Leon Haslam grabbed a debut victory in the closest race in World Superbikes history at the opening round Sunday.

Haslam, riding a Suzuki, beat Italy's Michel Fabrizio by four thousands of a second in the first of two races on the Phillip Island circuit, then finished second behind Spain's Carlos Checa in the second race to lead series standings.

Stewards called a photo finish as Haslam and Fabrizio flashed across the finish line only millimetres apart and at almost 260kmh (160mph). The previous closest race in the series was at Monza, Italy in 1999 when Carl Fogarty beat Colin Edwards by five thousandths of a second.

Haslam started from pole position and led from start to finish in race one, though he was severely pressed by Fabrizio. He held off Fabrizio's desperate late challenge while Japan's Noriyuki Haga, on a Ducati, was third.

"I knew the tire was going to go off from mid-race onwards so the strategy was just to sit behind one of these guys for most of the race and then hopefully have a go at the end, but it didn't work out like that," Haslam said.

"I got a good start and I just kept looking at my lap time. Mid-race I decided to smooth it all off, knowing there was just the three of us," he said. "From then on a tried to go a few times to break (away) but it just wasn't going to happen.

"I knew Fabrizio was right there, I could hear him. But I didn't even celebrate because I didn't know if I had won or not."

Haslam also led for most of the second race before being overtaken close to the finish by Checa. The Spaniard, on a Ducati, won the race by .307 of a second while Fabrizio was third.

"Ever since I jumped on the Suzuki, the fifth lap out on the bike, I was actually quicker than what I was on last year's bike," Haslam said.

"Most racers complain a lot but from the very beginning I've had nothing to complain about which is quite strange."

Results:

1st race

1. Leon Haslam (GBR/Team Suzuki) 34min 13.435sec
2. Michel Fabrizio (ITA/Ducati) at 0.004sec
3. Noriyuki Haga (JPN/Ducati) 0.769
4. Jonathan Rea (GBR/Honda) 10.201
5. Max Biaggi (ITA/Aprilia) 10.782

2nd Race

1. Carlos Checha (ESP/Ducati) 34min 16.428sec
2. Leon Haslam (GBR/Team Suzuki) at 0.307sec
3. Michel Fabrizio (ITA/Ducati) 0.434
4. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA/Team Suzuki) 0.837
5. Noriyuki Haga (JPN/Ducati) 3.453

Standings

1. Leon Haslam (GBR/Team Suzuki) 45 pts
2. Michel Fabrizio (ITA/Ducati) 36
3. Carlos Checha (ESP/Ducati) 34
4. Noriyuki Haga (JPN/Ducati) 27
5. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA/Team Suzuki) 23