Reigning World Superbike Champion Carlos Checa was caught out by a perceived decrease in grip levels on race rubber during today's World Superbike Superpole at Donington Park and a gamble in the second session saw him relegated to the third row.

The Althea Ducati man stuck a qualifier on at the beginning of Superpole two but was then forced to go out again as he was shuffled down the order. Gambling on matching his usual pace on a race tyre, he left pitlane but was unable to replicate his earlier speed.

“We had tried the qualifying tyre at the start of the second Superpole phase but when I saw that I needed to go out again, I opted for the race tyre. I thought I’d be able to make a low 1m28. I gave it all I had but it seemed like I didn’t have the same level of grip that I had had in the morning, and I couldn’t do quite enough. Anyway, it went like that and tomorrow I’ll need to make a really strong start," said the Spaniard.