Checa wins first WSB championship with race one victory

Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) won his first WSB Championship with his thirteenth race win of the season in the opening race at Magny-Cours.

Having passed Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) Checa held the lead, crossing the finish line with a 2.2 second gap over pre-race championship rival Marco Melandri in second place.

Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad) put in a strong performance to take third at the French circuit, relegating Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia) to fourth, whilst Yamaha World Superbike Team rider Laverty dropped back to take fifth.

1. Carlos Checa Althea Racing 23 38’16.465
2. Marco Melandri Yamaha World Superbike Team 23 38’18.666
3 Leon Haslam BMW Motorrad Motorsport 23 38’19.683
4 Leon Camier Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team 23 38’20.261
5 Eugene Laverty Yamaha World Superbike Team 23 38’22.067
6 Sylvain Guintoli Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing 23 38’26.099
7 Noriyuki Haga PATA Racing Team Aprilia 23 38’26.279
8 Joan Lascorz Kawasaki Racing Team 23 38’27.852
9 Troy Corser BMW Motorrad Motorsport 23 38’33.608
10 Tom Sykes Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike 23 38’40.988
11 Javier Fores BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team 23 38’50.997
12 Michel Fabrizio Team Suzuki Alstare 23 39’36.207
13 Roberto Rolfo Team Pedercini 22 39’30.062
RT Maxime Berger Supersonic Racing Team 10 16’55.986
RT Jonathan Rea Castrol Honda 46’43.296
RT Ayrton Badovini BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team 46’43.693
RT Jakub Smrz Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing 23’22.430
RT Mark Aitchison Team Pedercini 1’38.643