Silverstone WSB: Checa extends championship lead with double win

Carlos Checa did the double at today’s round of World Superbike action from Silverstone.
 
The Althea Ducati rider moved past Yamaha’s Eugene Laverty early in the race and was able to slowly eek out a two-second gap over the Yamaha man. Checa was delighted to take maximum points at a circuit he prepared to struggle at before the World Superbike summer break.
 
And in addition to winning Ducati’s 300th and 301st World Superbike races, today’s second race was Checa’s 100th in the class.
 
Checa said: “It’s a perfect weekend for me. For us, honestly, we didn’t expect to win here because we struggled last year. But it didn’t come for free, we worked hard from the beginning.
 
“I didn’t know that it was my 100th race in World Superbike, but the important thing is that I’m not 100 yet. I’m getting old, but I’m not 100 yet.”
 
Laverty ended up second after slowly being left by Checa, but managed a two-second gap of his own ahead of the chasing pack of teammate Marco Melandri and Alitalia Aprilia’s Max Biaggi and Leon Camier.
 
Laverty said: “We were a lot closer in the second one. I was able to stay with Carlos for a few laps but I really used the tyres to try to stay with him.
 
“I enjoy the circuit, it suits my riding style. I won here last here and have been on the podium twice this year so it’s nice that this can be my home round.”
 
Melandri won the fight for the final podium position, making it an identical podium to race one. Despite the cooler conditions in the afternoon that resulted in the race’s fastest lap being a second quicker, Melandri opted for a harder rear tyre than in the first race.
 
But the Italian is looking for race wins, and said that he’s conceded the title to Checa and has his sights set on an assault next season.
 
Melandri said: “The pace at the front was faster and I made a few mistakes trying to follow them so I lost my way to the front. It’s been a good weekend, but not like I want. I want to be more consistent and stronger.”
 
“For me, the championship was already over because Carlos has a big lead so I just have to do my best race by race and if Carlos loses some points, it’ll be there for us.”
 
Camier finished as the second Brit in fifth ahead of BMW’s Leon Haslam in eighth, BMW Italia’s James Toseland in 13th, and Samsung Crescent Suzuki’s Jon Kirkham in 15th,
 
Polesitter John Hopkins faded to seventh after encountering tyre difficulties in the dying laps of the race after fighting desperately to hold onto the leading group. Fellow wildcard rider Alex Lowes retired from the race.
 
Results of Silverstone World Superbike Race 2
 
1. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 38’03.361
2. Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) Yamaha YZF R1 38’05.635
3. Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team) Yamaha YZF R1 38’07.036
4. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 38’07.321
5. Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 38’07.766
6. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 38’14.319
7. John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 38’14.748
8. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 38’14.857
9. Michel Fabrizio (Team Suzuki Alstare) Suzuki GSX-R1000 38’15.608
10. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) BMW S1000 RR 38’23.066
11. Jakub Smrz (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 38’23.114
12. Maxime Berger (Supersonic Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 38’24.943
13. James Toseland (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) BMW S1000 RR 38’30.596
14. Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 38’34.063
15. Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 38’45.940
16. Fabrizio Lai (Castrol Honda) Honda CBR1000RR 38’46.781
RT. Roberto Rolfo (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 36’54.601
RT. Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 26’05.082
RT. Alexander Lowes (Castrol Honda) Honda CBR1000RR 15’16.934
RT. Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 12’48.104
RT. Noriyuki Haga (PATA Racing Team Aprilia) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 15’28.127