Carlos Checa wins the SBK double at Imola

Rider Carlos Checa scored a double today at the World Superbike Championship at the Imola Circuit. The Althea Ducati Racing rider put in another fantastic performance in the second race on the Italian track. Once again, Tom Sykes took advantage of his pole position to get off the line first and hold the lead for a few laps, but today the bull was in a league of his own.

Sykes got off to a very fast start, setting the pace and setting records at Imola, but he could not keep up with the pace Checa had been setting from behind. The number 7 began to mark his territory and reel him in, and as soon as he had the chance he delivered the decisive blow to take the lead, and at that moment the race broke open once again, leaving him with no rival on track. The only thing left for the 66 is that he managed to ride faster than the Spaniard in record times, setting the new fastest lap at the Italian circuit with a 1:47.552.

Behind the number 7, Sykes and Leon Haslam completed the podium, while further back the former championship leader Max Biaggi finished 4th, and Jonathan Rea rounded out the top 5 despite running wide, refusing to be overtaken by Laverty and holding his position in an intense battle. The top 10 was therefore Laverty 6th, Smrz 7th, Camier 8th, Joan Lascorz 9th and Marco Melandri 10th.

The other Spanish riders on track had mixed fortunes, Lascorz had an interesting day finishing 9th, while David Salom suffered problems throughout the weekend, closing the day in Imola in 17th place, but he will make his presence felt at the next round.

These victories put Checa, as leader of the overall standings after the second round of the World Superbike Championship, with 75 points, followed by Biaggi with 71 points and Sykes with 69 points.

Results of the second race of the World Superbike Championship at Imola