Current Ten Kate Honda World Superbike man Carlos Checa has confirmed he will switch to a new satellite Ducati squad, run by Tommy Hill's former team Althea, for the 2010 season.

Checa has been replaced by Max Neukirchner in the Dutch-based squad and his new team, who run Hondas at the moment, have a contract for use four bikes next year but haven't secured a second rider.

"After two years with Honda and the Ten Kate team, I’ve decided to change and I’m extremely happy to join the Althea Ducati Team. I know Genesio Bevilacqua is a determined and capable manager and I hope to reach excellent results with his team," said the former MotoGP winner.

"I’m impatient to get to Portimao to be able to end my racing season in the best possible way and also to start to get to know my new team and try out my new bike. I’m very happy to be back on a Ducati motorcycle and I look forward to start working immediately with my technical staff because our target is to be competitive right from the very first Superbike championship races."

Checa will test Ducati at the official post-season test session following the championship final at Portimao next weekend.