Reigning World Superbike Champion Carlos Checa has put his hands up to making the wrong tyre choice in today's second race at Assen, saying it was his decision to go out on full wets.

The Spaniard took to the grid believing more rain would come down on the Dutch track and gambled on a full wet setup. However, all the circuit did was get drier and he was forced to pit in after a handful of laps to change rubber. Even though he set the fastest lap of the race with a 1'38.092 it wasn't enough and he finished outside the points which means even though he was on the race one podium, Max Biaggi overtakes him for top spot in the title race.

“I’m more than satisfied with the result in race one, because conditions were already tricky in the first phase, let alone in the second! After the restart, there was little traction, little grip, and when I saw some of the others go down, I decided it was better to finish the race than risk a fall. Considering the conditions, probably one of the worst SBK races I’ve ever ridden, we’re happy with third place," said Checa.

"In race two I made a mistake and take full responsibility for it. I chose to go out on a rain tyre as I though rain would come but I was wrong. I’m sorry I didn’t come straight back in to change it during the warm-up lap as, that way, I would have probably been able to close in the top ten but instead I waited and by then it was too late to be able to catch up. We turn the page and look ahead.”