Checa’s brilliance shines on at Silverstone

World Championship leader Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) had a remarkable weekend in front of 64,000 fans at Silverstone, despite not expecting to be in full contention before arriving in the UK. In winning the first race Checa became the rider who gave Ducati 300 race wins in this championship, and added one to the total when he took his second win in a few hours. His race two victory was his tenth of the season. Checa is something of a century man, as he notched up 100 WSBK races in the second encounter and he was also the rider to give Honda its 100th win in WSBK, at Miller Motorsports Park in 2008. “Facing radically different conditions compared to Donington Park’s race in March just 100 km north, Pirelli was prepared for the Silverstone Circuit with over 4800 tyres to support 140 riders. For SBK, these options consisted of an SC1, SC2 and a development mid-soft front tyre, along with  an SC0 and intermediate rear. Superpole started off the weekend with BSB Championship rider and wildcard Hopkins (Suzuki) setting a new track record of 2'04.041 on Pirelli’s Diablo Superbike qualifying tyres. During R1 of SBK with a racing surface of 31°C, the mid-soft ‘B’ front and soft ‘B’ rear was the popular tyre choice, with Laverty on a slightly harder  SC1 rear tyre, Camier, Biaggi and Haslam on the  SC2 front, and Haga and Guintoli on the  SC1  front. Technical problems left both factory Aprilias out of podium contention, but race-winner Checa (Ducati) and the two Yamahas of Laverty and Melandri gave the fans a real race, rounded out by Hopkins (Suzuki) in the top 5. R2 of SBK saw a nearly identical result, with the factory Aprilias trailing the podium and Biaggi recording the Best Lap of 2’05.5. Supersport was equally productive, with development work on Diablo Supercorsa SC0’s progressing well, having seen Yamaha, Kawasaki and Honda finish on the podium and only a 2.5 second gap amongst them. Infront Motor Sport’s contract with Pirelli as Official Tyre Supplier has been renewed through the end of 2015, confirming Pirelli's 8 years of continued tyre development for faster, closer and more entertaining racing.” - Giorgio Barbier, Racing Director, Pirelli Moto Pirelli BEST LAP Awards: SBK Race 1 – Carlos Checa (Althea Racing), 2'06.045 (Lap 5) SBK Race 2 – Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing), 2’05.525 (Lap 2) Total BEST LAP (SBK): Checa C. (Althea Racing): 6, Biaggi M. (Aprilia Alitalia Racing): 5, Melandri M. (Yamaha World Superbike): 3, Haga N. (PATA Racing Team Aprilia): 1, Sykes T. (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike): 1, Camier L. (Aprilia Alitalia Racing): 1, Fabrizio M. (Team Suzuki Alstare): 1 WSS – Robbin Harms (Harms Benjan Racing Team), 2'09.771 (Lap 2) Total BEST LAP (WSS): Foret F. (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda): 2, Lowes S. (Parkalgar Honda): 2, Scassa L. (Yamaha ParkinGO Team): 1, Davies C. (Yamaha ParkinGO Team): 1, Rea G. (Step Racing Team): 1, Harms R. (Harms Benjan Racing Team): 1 Stk1000 – Danilo Petrucci (Barni Racing Team), 2’08.796 (Lap 2) Stk600 – Romain Lanusse (MRS Yamaha Racing France), 2’13.468 (Lap 3) He missed out on a Superpole victory but controlled the pace in each race, making a break away from early leader Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) each time. Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team) was third in each race, moving closer to overall second place rider Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) who had a terrible opener but a much-improved second race. Carlos Checa: “I didn’t know it was my hundredth race, but it’s most important I’m not 100 years old! It was also Ducati’s 300^th win, a fantastic weekend, and I will remember it for these many reasons. You never know, there are still many races to go and it’s easy to lose points but now we arrive at some tracks where I feel more comfortable. I expected to have more trouble at Silverstone but we worked, planned and adapted well to make a perfect result. For sure now we go on holiday quite relaxed!” Eugene Laverty: “I’ve got to be happy with 40 points. It’s not a victory but two seconds are going to have to do. I was pushing for the win, in particular for my brother John who’s laid up in hospital. It was a better second race for me, after Carlos rode away in the first one. For race 2 I changed the rear tyre, there was an improvement but every time I closed in on Carlos he reacted. The Yamaha has been working well around here, last year it did the double and me and Marco are on the podium this time round.” Marco Melandri: “It’s been a good race, I changed the tyre for race 2 to get better grip on the left side, but the lap time at the beginning was faster so it was tricky for me to follow the leaders. After ten laps I started to get a better feeling with the bike and started to go faster than the guys in front of me. I caught Camier and Max was behind me but I really wanted this podium, a big thanks to all of my team.” Behind the riders in the front positions John Hopkins delivered on his Superpole status for much of raceday only fading towards the end of each contest, as a wildcard rider arrived with interest at this round. A brace of sixth places for Sylvain Guintoli put another privateer well in the mix, while local rider Haslam worked hard for his race finishes in the points. For the other main regulars, Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstare) had a high of ninth in race two, and Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) was seventh in race one, having started 19th on the grid. Stand-in rider Alex Lowes (Castrol Honda) did not finish either race, Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) was tenth on each occasion and his team-mate James Toseland battled hard in each race to finish 12th and 13th. Another comeback rider, Troy Corser, was ninth in race one. Race 1 Carlos Checa took the total of Ducati race wins in WSBK history to 300 in race one. Early race leader Eugene Laverty was second and Marco Melandri third. Local hero Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) was fourth, while pole man and wildcard rider John Hopkins ending up fifth and well in the points. Sylvain Guintoli got into the top six ahead of Joan Lascorz, after early fast Pedercini Kawasaki rider Mark Aitchison crashed out. Aprilia Alitalia rider Max Biaggi was a disappointed 11th, his team-mate Leon Camier distraught at losing a podium place as his bike suffered a problem that held him back in 15th place. Results: 1. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 38'06.477 (167,266 kph); 2. Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF R1 3.304; 3. Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R1 4.782; 4. Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR; 7.116; 5. Hopkins J. (USA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 11.057; 6. Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 21.899; 7. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 22.308; 8. Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 22.734; 9. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 25.491; 10. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 25.725; 11. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 25.844; 12. Toseland J. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 45.578; 13. Rolfo R. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 51.650; 14. Kirkham J. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 57.310; 15. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'36.457; RET. Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR; etc. Race 2 Points leader Checa made it ten wins in 2011 and in his 100th WSBK race no less, when he won the second 18 lap race at Silverstone, moving further ahead in the championship chase. Laverty took his four-cylinder bike to second, with his fellow Yamaha man Melandri was third but only after a tough battle. Biaggi was with Melandri in the final few corners but could not work a way past at the flag, taking a fighting fourth place. Biaggi’s team-mate Camier was fifth, having been in a podium spot for most of the race. Wildcard Hopkins was pushed to seventh by the impressive privateer Guintoli. Results: 1. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 38'03.361 (167,494 kph); 2. Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF R1 2.274; 3. Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R1 3.675; 4. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 3.960; 5. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 4.405; 6. Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 10.958; 7. Hopkins J. (USA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 11.387; 8. Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 11.496; 9. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 12.247; 10. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 19.705; 11. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 19.753; 12. Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 21.582; 13. Toseland J. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 27.235; 14. Aitchison M. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-10R 30.702; 15. Kirkham J. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 42.579; 16. Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 43.420; etc. Points (after 9 of 13 rounds): 1. Checa 343; 2. Biaggi 281; 3. Melandri 272; 4. Laverty 208; 5. Haslam 158; 6. Camier 146; 7: Fabrizio 141; 8. Badovini 118; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Ducati 355; 2. Yamaha 320; 3. Aprilia 320; 4. BMW 194; 5. Suzuki 158; 6. Kawasaki 137; 7. Honda. 113. World Supersport Chaz Davies (Yamaha ParkinGO) Gino Rea (Step Racing Team) held off the race long challenge of David Salom (Kawasaki Motocard.com) to take his fourth win of the season and extend his championship lead to 42 points. Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) finished third, 2.449 seconds from Davies, but the late challenge of the luckless Gino Rea (Step Racing Honda) ended in the gravel as he ran on trying to pass Foret, and he finished 11th. Roberto Tamburini (Bike Service R.T. Yamaha) put memories of a big Silverstone crash last year behind him with fourth place, one position up on Massimo Roccoli (Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki). Broc Parkes, Salom’s team-mate was sixth. Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda) fell after a collision early in the race with Rea. Davies is now leading the championship with 141 points, Salom is second on 104, Foret has 101 and Parkes is fourth with 95. Results: 1. Davies C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 34'55.198 (162,255 kph); 2. Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1.085; 3. Foret F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 2.449; 4. Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 8.319; 5. Roccoli M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 11.283; 6. Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 12.308; 7. Nemeth B. (HUN) Honda CBR600RR 14.011; 8. Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 14.814; etc. Points (after 9 of 12 rounds): 1. Davies 146; 2. Salom 104; 3. Foret 101; 4. Parkes 95; 5. Scassa 83; 6. Lowes 73; 7. Rea 62; 8. Harms 59; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Yamaha 176; 2. Honda 149; 3. Kawasaki 134; 4. Triumph 23. Superstock 1000 Danilo Petrucci (Barni Racing Ducati) won a ten-lap race by over three seconds from the warring duo of Lorenzo Zanetti (BMW Motorrad Italia Superstock) and Niccolo Canepa (Lazio Motorsport Ducati). The fight for the lead was eventually contested by Petrucci and championship leader Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati) until Giugliano crashed out of contention on lap nine, leaving Petrucci a clear run to the flag. This was Petrucci’s first win in this class. Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia Superstock) also crashed out. In the championship fight, Giugliano has an unchanged 115 points, Zanetti 104, Petrucci 94 and Barrier 65. Results: 1. Petrucci D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 21'36.434 (163,89 kph); 2. Zanetti L. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 3.431; 3. Canepa N. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 3.465; 4. Baroni L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 12.047; 5. Mercado L. (ARG) Kawasaki ZX-10R 14.270; 6. Reiterberger M. (GER) BMW S1000 RR 14.715; 7. Antonelli A. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 18.739; 8. Morais S. (RSA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 19.371; etc. Points (after 6 of 10 rounds): 1. Giugliano 115; 2. Zanetti 104: 3. Petrucci 94; 4. Barrier 65; 5. Canepa 64; 6. Baroni 46; 7. Antonelli 44; 8. Reiterberger 42; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Ducati 140; 2. BMW 122; 3. Kawasaki 58; 4. Honda 52; 5. Yamaha 15. Superstock 600 The European Superstock 600 race provided a spectacular end to the UK Round held at Silverstone. The race win went to American Joshua Day (Revolution Racedays Kawasaki), who became the sixth different winner this year. In a sprint finish to the line Day got the edge on Australian Jed Metcher (MTM-RT Motorsports Yamaha) and Italian Riccardo Russo (Trasimeno Yamaha), who stepped onto the podium for the first time in his debut STK600 season. Romain Lanusse (MRS Yamaha Racing France) again failed to score a win but held off the challenge of Daniele Beretta (Trasimeno Yamaha) in the last few metres to keep his points lead intact. Brno winner Lombardi had an off day for the Martini Corse Yamaha team, the Italian finishing thirteenth and dropping to fourth in the table. Race: 1. Day J. (USA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 20'14.620 (157,436 kph); 2. Metcher J. (AUS) Yamaha YZF R6 0.187; 3. Russo R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 0.245; 4. Lanusse R. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 0.425; 5. Beretta D. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 0.816; 6. Egea S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 5.074; 7. Schacht A. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 6.703; 8. Covena T. (NED) Yamaha YZF R6 7.124; etc. Points (after 6 of 10 rounds): 1. Lanusse 94; 2. Metcher 81; 3. Day 76; 4. Lombardi 74; 5. Russo 54; 6. Vd Mark 51; 7. Duwelz 51; 8. Gregorini 35; etc.