Carlos Checa

Carlos Checa Carrera (born 15 October 1972) is a Spanish former professional motorcycle road racer and winner of the 2011 Superbike World Championship. After racing in 500 cc and MotoGP for over a decade, mostly on Honda and Yamaha machinery with and without full manufacturer support, he moved to the Superbike World Championship on a Honda for 2008. He has two Grand Prix victories.[1] He has a younger brother, David Checa, also a motorcycle racer who competed in the Superbike World Championship for 2008.

Carlos Checa
Checa during the Silverstone round of the 2012 Superbike World Championship
NationalitySpanish
Born (1972-10-15) 15 October 1972
Barcelona, Spain
Websitecarloscheca.com
Twitter's profile
Motorcycle racing career statistics
MotoGP World Championship
Active years19952007, 2010
ManufacturersHonda, Ducati, Yamaha
Championships0
2010 championship position21st (1 pt)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
194 2 24 3 5 1485
250cc World Championship
Active years19931995
ManufacturersHonda
Championships0
1995 championship position13th (45 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
27 0 0 0 0 108
125cc World Championship
Active years1993
ManufacturersHonda
Championships0
1993 championship position27th (9 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
1 0 0 0 0 9
Superbike World Championship
Active years20082013
ManufacturersHonda, Ducati
Championships1 (2011)
2013 championship position15th (80 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
150 24 49 10 30 1691.5

Career

125cc, 250cc, 500cc & MotoGP World Championship

Born in Barcelona, Spain, Checa made his debut in 125cc and 250cc motorcycle racing in 1993 for Honda. In 1995, he moved up to the Blue Riband 500cc class as a replacement for Alberto Puig, a fellow Spaniard who broke both his legs in a horrifying crash in France. Checa shocked the paddock by being on the pace and nearly winning the Barcelona race.

He continued with the team until 1998, the year he suffered near fatal injuries with a crash at Donington Park's Craner Curves and was initially thought to have suffered only scrapes and bruises before complaining of pain. Hours later he had lost his vision,[2] needed emergency surgery to remove his spleen and was listed in critical condition. He fought back to ride that year, missing just one race, before racing for Yamaha as Max Biaggi's teammate on two-strokes and four-strokes. He nearly won many races but had a habit of crashing after taking the lead. One such race was at Rio de Janeiro in 2002 when he stalled on the starting line, then rode through the field to take the lead only to crash a corner later.

Checa continued racing with the factory Yamaha team for the 2003 and 2004 seasons, before he moved to Marlboro Ducati in 2005. In 2006 he returned to the Tech 3 Yamaha team, proving much steadier than in previous years and comfortably beating teammate James Ellison, but was not much a threat to the rest of the field, as they were on Dunlop tyres. He struggled as the sole LCR Honda rider in 2007, with the 800cc Honda proving uncompetitive for many riders. At the Sachsenring Checa got an updated frame, which other non-works Honda riders had found uncompetitive – this is believed to be due to Checa using the same Michelin tyres as the works team, the other Hondas being on Bridgestones.

Checa returned to the series in 2010, as replacement for Mika Kallio for the last two races of the season.[3]

Superbike World Championship

For the 2008 season, Checa left MotoGP to join the Ten Kate Honda team in the Superbike World Championship as a replacement for 2007 champion James Toseland.[4] At Valencia he challenged Max Neukirchner for the win at the final corner, resulting in a collision which broke Neukirchner's collarbone. Checa's first two wins – following four podium finishes – both came in the meeting at Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City on 1 June 2008. He did not reach the podium again, but consistent results elsewhere allowed him to finish fifth in the championship. He also won the Suzuka 8 Hours with teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari.[5]

In 2009, Checa struggled to compete for much of the season, securing just four podium finishes and finishing seventh in the riders' standings, 32 points behind satellite Honda rider Leon Haslam. During the 2009 season, Ten Kate Honda announced that they would be downsizing their operation from three riders to just two.[6] Both Checa and Ryuichi Kiyonari were released, with Jonathan Rea retained[7] and Max Neukirchner joining the team from Suzuki.[8]

In November 2009, Checa was confirmed as a rider at the Althea Ducati team, where he would race alongside Shane Byrne.[9] He scored Althea's first win at the season opening meeting at Phillip Island, and was on course for victories in both races at Miller Motorsports Park in the United States before suffering mystery mechanical failures in both races.[10] Checa went on to win the Italian round at Imola and finished the season in third place in the 2010 championship.[11]

Checa dominated the opening round of the 2011 season, winning both races comfortably at Phillip Island on his Ducati 1098R.[12] He won thirteen more times and was crowned the 2011 World Superbike Champion at the penultimate round at the Magny-Cours circuit in France, becoming the first Spaniard and only the third European rider from outside of the United Kingdom after Raymond Roche and Max Biaggi to have done so.[11]

Career statistics

By season

Season Class Motorcycle Team Number Race Win Podium Pole FLap Pts Plcd WCh
1993 125cc Honda RS125R M.C Manresa - Petrocat 63 1 0 0 0 0 9 27th
250cc Honda RS250R Daytona - Pit Lane 38 6 0 0 0 0 9 23rd
1994 250cc Honda RS250R Givi Racing 23 14 0 0 0 0 54 12th
1995 250cc Honda NSR250 Fortuna Honda Pons 12 7 0 0 0 0 45 13th
500cc Honda NSR500 Fortuna Honda Pons 12 5 0 0 0 1 26 16th
1996 500cc Honda NSR500 Fortuna Honda Pons 24 14 1 3 0 1 124 8th
1997 500cc Honda NSR500 MoviStar Honda Pons 8 15 0 3 0 1 119 8th
1998 500cc Honda NSR500 MoviStar Honda Pons 8 11 1 3 1 1 139 4th
1999 500cc Yamaha YZR500 Marlboro Yamaha Team 4 16 0 1 0 0 125 7th
2000 500cc Yamaha YZR500 Marlboro Yamaha Team 7 16 0 4 0 0 155 6th
2001 500cc Yamaha YZR500 Marlboro Yamaha Team 7 15 0 3 0 0 137 6th
2002 MotoGP Yamaha YZR-M1 Marlboro Yamaha Team 7 16 0 4 1 1 141 5th
2003 MotoGP Yamaha YZR-M1 Fortuna Yamaha Team 7 16 0 0 0 0 123 7th
2004 MotoGP Yamaha YZR-M1 Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha 7 16 0 1 1 0 117 7th
2005 MotoGP Ducati GP5 Ducati Marlboro Team 7 17 0 2 0 0 138 9th
2006 MotoGP Yamaha YZR-M1 Tech 3 Yamaha 7 17 0 0 0 0 75 15th
2007 MotoGP Honda RC212V Honda LCR 7 18 0 0 0 0 65 14th
2010 MotoGP Ducati GP10 Pramac Racing Team 71 2 0 0 0 0 1 21st
Total 222 2 24 3 5 1602 0

By class

Class Seasons 1st GP 1st Pod 1st Win Race Win Podiums Pole FLap Pts WChmp
125cc 1993 1993 Europe 1 0 0 0 0 9 0
250cc 1993–1995 1993 San Marino 27 0 0 0 0 108 0
500cc 1995–2001 1995 Britain 1996 Malaysia 1996 Catalunya 92 2 17 1 4 825 0
MotoGP 2002–2007, 2010 2002 Japan 2002 Japan 102 0 7 2 1 660 0
Total 1993–2007, 2010 222 2 24 3 5 1602 0

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Pts
1993 125cc Honda AUS MAL JPN SPA AUT GER NED EUR
7
27th 9
250cc Honda RSM
21
GBR
25
CZE
Ret
ITA
20
USA
14
FIM
9
23rd 9
1994 250cc Honda AUS
14
MAL
11
JPN
Ret
SPA
11
AUT
Ret
GER
14
NED
11
ITA
10
FRA
13
GBR
12
CZE
Ret
USA
7
ARG
10
EUR
10
12th 54
1995 250cc Honda AUS
4
MAL
DNS
JPN
Ret
SPA
Ret
GER
7
ITA
11
NED
11
FRA
4
13th 45
500cc Honda GBR
Ret
CZE
8
BRA
7
ARG
7
EUR
Ret
16th 26
1996 500cc Honda MAL
3
INA
5
JPN
10
SPA
10
ITA
DNS
FRA
Ret
NED
11
GER
Ret
GBR
12
AUT
7
CZE
8
IMO
11
CAT
1
BRA
4
AUS
3
8th 124
1997 500cc Honda MAL
6
JPN
6
SPA
Ret
ITA
Ret
AUT
6
FRA
2
NED
2
IMO
4
GER
Ret
BRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
CZE
Ret
CAT
2
INA
6
AUS
10
8th 119
1998 500cc Honda JPN
8
MAL
2
SPA
4
ITA
4
FRA
3
MAD
1
NED
5
GBR
DNS
GER CZE
7
IMO
10
CAT
6
AUS
DNS
ARG
8
4th 139
1999 500cc Yamaha MAL
2
JPN
6
SPA
10
FRA
5
ITA
7
CAT
7
NED
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
4
CZE
Ret
IMO
Ret
VAL
5
AUS
4
RSA
6
BRA
Ret
ARG
4
7th 125
2000 500cc Yamaha RSA
2
MAL
2
JPN
5
SPA
2
FRA
7
ITA
2
CAT
Ret
NED
5
GBR
11
GER
9
CZE
11
POR
12
VAL
7
BRA
15
PAC
4
AUS
Ret
6th 155
2001 500cc Yamaha JPN
10
RSA SPA
14
FRA
2
ITA
Ret
CAT
8
NED
Ret
GBR
5
GER
2
CZE
7
POR
4
VAL
4
PAC
7
AUS
16
MAL
10
BRA
2
6th 137
2002 MotoGP Yamaha JPN
3
RSA
5
SPA
Ret
FRA
Ret
ITA
4
CAT
3
NED
3
GBR
Ret
GER
4
CZE
5
POR
2
BRA
Ret
PAC
5
MAL
7
AUS
11
VAL
Ret
5th 141
2003 MotoGP Yamaha JPN
10
RSA
9
SPA
Ret
FRA
Ret
ITA
8
CAT
4
NED
4
GBR
6
GER
8
CZE
4
POR
8
BRA
9
PAC
Ret
MAL
5
AUS
8
VAL
5
7th 123
2004 MotoGP Yamaha RSA
10
SPA
6
FRA
2
ITA
Ret
CAT
4
NED
9
BRA
10
GER
Ret
GBR
6
CZE
6
POR
5
JPN
7
QAT
Ret
MAL
9
AUS
10
VAL
14
7th 117
2005 MotoGP Ducati SPA
10
POR
5
CHN
Ret
FRA
Ret
ITA
5
CAT
11
NED
9
USA
Ret
GBR
5
GER
Ret
CZE
8
JPN
4
MAL
3
QAT
6
AUS
3
TUR
5
VAL
4
9th 138
2006 MotoGP Yamaha SPA
13
QAT
12
TUR
15
CHN
14
FRA
11
ITA
15
CAT
8
NED
9
GBR
10
GER
9
USA
7
CZE
15
MAL
12
AUS
Ret
JPN
14
POR
7
VAL
10
15th 75
2007 MotoGP Honda QAT
Ret
SPA
6
TUR
12
CHN
10
FRA
Ret
ITA
Ret
CAT
17
GBR
Ret
NED
11
GER
14
USA
14
CZE
10
RSM
6
POR
7
JPN
18
AUS
11
MAL
14
VAL
12
14th 65
2010 MotoGP Ducati QAT SPA FRA ITA GBR NED CAT GER USA CZE IND SMR ARA JPN MAL AUS POR
Ret
VAL
15
21st 1

By season

Season Motorcycle Team Race Win Podium Pole FLap Pts Plcd WCh
2008 Honda CBR1000RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 28 2 7 1 5 313 4th
2009 Honda CBR1000RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 28 0 4 0 0 209 7th
2010 Ducati 1098R Althea Racing 26 3 8 1 7 297 3rd
2011 Ducati 1098R Althea Racing 26 15 21 6 10 505 1st 1
2012 Ducati 1098R Althea Racing 27 4 9 1 8 287.5 4th
2013 Ducati 1199 Panigale R Team Ducati Alstare 15 0 0 1 0 80 15th
Total 150 24 49 10 30 1691.5 1

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos Pts
R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2
2008 Honda QAT
6
QAT
11
AUS
6
AUS
2
SPA
5
SPA
3
NED
2
NED
3
ITA
8
ITA
Ret
USA
1
USA
1
GER
5
GER
5
SMR
5
SMR
8
CZE
8
CZE
Ret
GBR
6
GBR
8
EUR
Ret
EUR
9
ITA
5
ITA
5
FRA
7
FRA
4
POR
2
POR
7
4th 313
2009 Honda AUS
12
AUS
13
QAT
5
QAT
13
SPA
Ret
SPA
6
NED
Ret
NED
7
ITA
9
ITA
10
RSA
6
RSA
6
USA
2
USA
Ret
SMR
11
SMR
5
GBR
11
GBR
Ret
CZE
2
CZE
5
GER
3
GER
3
ITA
Ret
ITA
10
FRA
6
FRA
9
POR
7
POR
Ret
7th 209
2010 Ducati AUS
7
AUS
1
POR
4
POR
4
SPA
Ret
SPA
2
NED
4
NED
6
ITA
14
ITA
11
RSA
2
RSA
5
USA
Ret
USA
Ret
SMR
2
SMR
5
CZE
9
CZE
6
GBR
7
GBR
10
GER
2
GER
Ret
ITA
1
ITA
1
FRA
3
FRA
9
3rd 297
2011 Ducati AUS
1
AUS
1
EUR
3
EUR
1
NED
3
NED
1
ITA
9
ITA
10
USA
1
USA
1
SMR
1
SMR
1
SPA
Ret
SPA
3
CZE
3
CZE
3
GBR
1
GBR
1
GER
1
GER
8
ITA
3
ITA
1
FRA
1
FRA
1
POR
1
POR
4
1st 505
2012 Ducati AUS
Ret
AUS
1
ITA
1
ITA
1
NED
3
NED
17
ITA
C
ITA
7
EUR
6
EUR
Ret
USA
1
USA
Ret
SMR
2
SMR
Ret
SPA
3
SPA
7
CZE
4
CZE
3
GBR
5
GBR
6
RUS
Ret
RUS
4
GER
12
GER
6
POR
2
POR
5
FRA
Ret
FRA
7
4th 287.5
2013 Ducati AUS
Ret
AUS
DNS
SPA
7
SPA
8
NED
10
NED
10
ITA
DNS
ITA
DNS
GBR
12
GBR
DNS
POR
9
POR
6
ITA
11
ITA
12
RUS
Ret
RUS
C
GBR
13
GBR
10
GER
10
GER
10
TUR
DNS
TUR
DNS
USA
USA
FRA
FRA
SPA
SPA
15th 80

Suzuka 8 Hours results

Year Team Co-Rider Bike Pos
2007 HRC 33 Honda Racing Tadayuki Okada CBR1000RRW 2nd
2008 Dream Honda Racing Ryuichi Kiyonari CBR1000RRW 1st

References

  1. "Carlos Checa". motogp.com. Dorna Sports. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  2. "Checa remembers Donington nightmare". motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 9 August 2004. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  3. "Checa thanks Pramac, gears up for Estoril". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  4. Carnell, Sarah (8 October 2007). "Hannspree Ten Kate Honda confirm 2008 rider line-up". Motorcycle News. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  5. "2008 Suzuka 8 Hours results". motoracing-japan.com. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  6. Guy, Michael (18 September 2009). "Ten Kate in no rush to confirm 2010 rider line–up". Motorcycle News. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  7. "Rea pens new Ten Kate deal". Insidebikes. Carole Nash. 25 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  8. "Neukirchner confirmed at Ten Kate". Insidebikes. Carole Nash. 14 October 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  9. "Byrne makes switch to Althea Ducati". Insidebikes. Carole Nash. 13 November 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  10. "Althea still sourcing Checa problems". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  11. "Carlos Checa World Superbike career statistics". worldsbk.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  12. "Checa seals a double win at Phillip Island". Superbike World Championship. Infront Motor Sports. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Max Biaggi
World Superbike Champion
2011
Succeeded by
Max Biaggi
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