Checa eyes up more testing in 2016
2011 World Champion hopes for ‘four or five’ tests next year.
Carlos Checa is looking to define a testing schedule with the Ducati Test Team for 2016 and hopes to be in action on numerous occasions next year.
During last season, the WorldSBK title winner of 2011 made testing appearances both at Mugello and Valencia and was pleased to contribute to Ducati’s success, as Chaz Davies enjoyed five race victories with the Panigale R during the 2015 campaign.
“It was a pleasure to be back on the bike at Mugello - and to be fast!” Checa told WorldSBK.com at this week’s EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.
“We found some good conclusions and some good settings. After that some good results came, so that was great satisfaction for me to have been able to collaborate and be a little part of it for Ducati and its results. It was also nice for me to be fast and ride the bike on the limit – that’s always good for a rider who has stopped and then come back after two years! It was great satisfaction.
“We need to talk about next year, but maybe I’ll take part in some other tests. Maybe four or five, but we need to speak about that in December. It is always a pleasure to ride the bike away from the stress of racing and, for me, it’s a pleasure to be able to ride it; it’s always refreshing, having done it for so many years in the past.”
Asked whether he still has the hunger to return to racing, the Spaniard replied:
“I’m still fast and able to put in the times, but the stress that comes from the races and the competition side of it…I’m a little bit tired of all that [smiles]! Honestly, I don’t know if I would have the energy and determination in racing to overtake, to fight, to go through all of the procedures you must do. So I don’t think so. I don’t feel that anymore. I just like riding the bike on the limit, but competing is another thing.”
After 15 seasons in Grand Prix racing, Carlos Checa moved to WorldSBK in 2008. Until his retirement at the end of 2013, he participated in 150 races and won 24 of them, clinching ten pole positions, 49 podium finishes and 31 fastest race laps in the process. Racing for Genesio Bevilacqua’s Althea Racing team, he took his Ducati 1098 R to the 2011 title in one of the most dominant seasons the championship has ever seen; during the year, Checa racked up 15 race wins and 21 rostrum finishes.
