Ducati Alstare rider Carlos Checa's World Superbike weekend has come to an abrupt end. A huge crash in free practice at the Istanbul Park track earlier this morning means he has been ruled out for Superpole tomorrow and the main races on Sunday.

The Spaniard had a nasty highside on turn 2, and was taken to the Clinica Mobile as a result, where doctors diagnosed a contusion to the upper thorax as well as a possible fracture of the left scaphoid. Unfortunately Checa will be unable to continue this weekend; further medical tests are required in order to establish when he will be able to return to the track.

Checa’s team-mate Ayrton Badovini also crashed in free practice and had to miss the opening qualifying session this afternoon. Having stretched the ligaments in his left ankle as well as suffering severe swelling due to a hematoma in the same ankle, it was decided that he would not participate in this afternoon’s qualifying to give the swelling chance to reduce. Doctors are however confident that Badovini will be able to ride tomorrow.

But the same can not be said for Checa who has been advised by doctors to sit out the rest of the Turkish round, as the rider is in a lot of pain.

“I have a lot of pain in the chest area on both the right and left side. I’ve also hurt my wrist but as there is already a screw there, resulting from an injury that dates back to 1996, it’s not yet clear whether I’ve now fractured it again or not. I obviously cannot ride in this condition; the doctors have advised me to rest up,” said Checa.