In a last minute U-turn, new World Superbike Champion is to stay with the Althea Ducati team for next year's series after the apparent intervention of factory boss Claudio Domenicali.

Sources close to the squad say team boss Genesio Bevilacqua has reached an agreement with Checa after he was offered a spot in the BMW Italia team. Checa hasn't signed a piece of paper but the team press officer has confirmed this afternoon that it is a done deal. The BMW factory team this morning confirmed to bikesportnews.com they had no space for the Spaniard.

"This weekend has been very special; before race one it looked like there was no way that I could stay with Althea Racing in 2012 and I was very upset about this but now it seems that Althea Racing and Ducati have come to an agreement and I am over the moon to hear that I can stay with my team and with my bike again next year. We have built something very special here and to leave would have been heartbreaking. More than a win, today has been a moral victory – in the space of two days I have lost, and thankfully regained my team," said Checa.