Ducati Alstare’s Carlos Checa struggled during today’s World Superbike free practice, and qualifying practice sessions, mainly due to a shoulder injury. The rider has now raised concerns that it may be too painful for him to race on Sunday.
The former champ, who has been receiving intense treatment for his injured left shoulder over recent days, took things more easily during this opening session, recording a best time of 2’09.5 to close in on thirteenth position.
In the afternoon’s qualifying session, on a still damp track that dried as the session progressed, Checa was able to improve his lap times, despite being in pain. Checa, alongside team-mate Aryton Badovini finished the final session of the day with almost identical times, Checa recorded a 1’44.7 in the final minutes, to finish eleventh while Badovini lapped in 1’44.8 which positioned him twelfth.
Checa and his technicians will continue with the scheduled work tomorrow before taking a decision with regard to the Spaniard’s participation in Sunday’s races.
“I must admit that my shoulder is giving me trouble. If it worsens tomorrow I’ll find it difficult to complete the races on Sunday. We’ll see how things go tomorrow. I’d like to try and make a string of consecutive laps and then, from there, we’ll see how I am physically and decide whether it’s worth trying to race or whether it’s better for me to concentrate on getting fit in time for Donington instead,” said Checa.
“With regard to the bike, I am losing a few tenths along each of the straights but we knew this would be the case. The chassis set-up is not bad, in the changes of direction, and the bike’s behaved quite well today. We’ll continue to work tomorrow and then we’ll make a decision.”