Aragon (Spain), Wednesday 27th June 2012: Having just participated in World Ducati Week at the Misano World Circuit, a four-day event which came to a close on Sunday, the Althea Racing team and riders Carlos Checa and Davide Giugliano now turns its attention to round eight of the 2012 World Superbike Championship, taking place at Checa’s home track of MotorLand Aragon in Spain.
At the latest Misano round, which took place over two weeks ago, the team celebrated a double podium in race 1 when Carlos Checa and Davide Giugliano crossed the line in second and third place respectively, both having put on an impressive show in front of the Italian crowds; unfortunately the success was not to continue, with both riders crashing out of the second race.
The MotorLand Aragon circuit, new to the SBK calendar last season, has already proved to be a happy hunting ground for Giugliano who won his Stock 1000 race in 2011. That same weekend saw Checa score a podium finish in SBK race 2, third, after crashing out as a result of a highside in race 1.
After seven of fourteen rounds, Carlos Checa lies in fifth position in the general standings with 150.5 points, while Davide is ninth with 80 points. Ducati leads the manufacturer’s championship with 222.5 points to Aprilia’s 221.
Carlos Checa:
“We had chance during WDW to work a little on the settings of my 1198 to be as prepared for this weekend’s Aragon races as possible. It’s always good to race at home and I hope that the fans’ enthusiasm help me to make two great results. Last year didn’t go to plan here and so, although it won’t be at all easy, I hope to make up for that now at this important point of the championship.”
Checa’s Superbike form at Aragon:
2011: Race 1- DNF, Race 2 – 3rd
Davide Giugliano:
“I enjoyed racing at Aragon last year when I won the Stock 1000 race, and I hope to make two more solid races this weekend with the Superbike. I like the track, though there’s a long straight that will penalize us. We carried out some testing during WDW, in hot conditions similar to what we’ll probably see in Aragon, and so I think I’m pretty prepared for the race.”