Checa enjoys British double
Added on Sunday, July 31st, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Checa enjoys British double
Carlos Checa and Ducati starred at Silverstone today, after taking a double victory towards his 2011 World Superbike championship campaign.
A strong starting position gave the Spanish rider a taste for honours from the off, however it was Eugene Laverty who was the early race leader. As the race progressed Checa worked his way into control of the race, to take a commanding victory ahead of Laverty.
Not only was this Checa’s ninth win of the 2011 season, but it was also the 300th victory for Ducati, making the celebration a truly important one. Laverty’s Yamaha World Superbike teammate Marco Melandri made it a special affair for the Yamaha outfit, by crossing the finish line in a stong third place, to complete the podium.
After the battle throughout the top three, the fight for fourth place was eventually won by Leon Haslam, with the local hero entertaining the crowds at the Northamptonshire circuit. Pole sitter and British Superbike regular and race winner John Hopkins switched his pole position start position to fifth place by the time the chequered flag fell.
Meanwhile, Sylvain Guintoli finished a distant sixth place, ahead of a charging Joan Lascorz. Lascorz had started ninteenth on the grid, however battled his way through the pack until he eventually ran out of time to progress further. Maxime Berger scored a top ten finish with eighth place, followed by the BMW machines of Troy Corser and Ayrton Badovini.
Max Biaggi’s unlucky fortune continued into race one, when an eleventh place qualifying spot left him in eleventh at the chequered flag. Biaggi’s teammate Leon Camier had been on course for a podium finish, however a problem ensured he dropped to fifteenth place.
A very familiar sight returned to the Silverstone circuir in race two, with the three podium positions being filled by the same three riders.
Checa again stormed his way to another triumph, making this his tenth of the 2011 season, and the 301st for Ducati. Whilst the Althea Racing rider and his team celebrated another victory, the Yamaha World Superbike Team were again enjoying another double podium finish for their team, with Laverty leading the way in second ahead of Melandri in third.
Although taking the final podium spot once again, Melandri found himself under pressure in the closing stages, with the Alitalia Aprilia of Biaggi following him closely across the finish line. Despite the pressure, Melandri refused to give in, to take another strong podium finish.
Biaggi fought back from a difficult start to the weekend to cross the line fourth, with his teammate Camier not too far behind in fifth. Guintoli again proved himself to be a top ten finisher with sixth place, after fighting off the attentions of BSB rider Hopkins and local rider Haslam. Michel Fabrizio returned to the top ten with a ninth place finish after being forced to retire at the very beginning of race one, whilst Badovini again secured tenth place.
Checa’s double victory has strengthened his hold on the 2011 title race, and with a strong 343 points to his name he heads into the next round with a comfortable advantage. Biaggi still lies second with 281 points, ahead of Melandri with 272 and Laverty with 208.
As we head into the second half of the season the race for the 2011 crown will be thrilling every step of the way. With a break on the cards for the next few weeks, the next round takes place at the infamous Nurburgring circuit over the weekend of 3rd-4th September, where Checa will be keen to extend his lead once again.
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