Tuesday, October 4 2011
Carlos Checa is the new World Superbike champion after he won the opening 23-lap race at Magny-Cours on Sunday.
The Spanish Althea Ducati rider clinced his maiden title by moving into an unassailable 442-point lead with his 13th win of the season.
Only Yamaha’s Marco Melandri could have stopped Checa, and his second-placed finish was not enough, with Leon Haslam (BMW), making up the podium.
As if to underline his dominance over the rest of the field, Checa duly returned to the track to take the second race of the day ahead of Melandri in second and Eugene Laverty (Yamaha) in third.
Leon Haslam again finished high, this time in fourth, with local favourite Sylvain Guintoli fifth on his Ducati – with the Italians also claiming the Manufacturers’ Championship.
Checa now heads to Portugal for the season-ending meeting on 467 points, some 107 clear of Melandri.
Laverty is now third with 283 points.
The 38-year-old’s success means he is the first Spaniard to lift the title, while it marks Ducati’s first since Troy Bayliss claimed the trophy in 2008.
The championship is due reward for Checa, who has been on the world stage since 1993.
World Superbike Magny-Cours Race One results:
1. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati
2. Marco Melandri (ITA) Yamaha
3. Leon Haslam (GBR) BMW
4. Leon Camier (GBR) Aprilia
5. Eugene Laverty (IRL) Yamaha
6. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Ducati
7. Nori Haga (JPN) Aprilia
8. Joan Lascorz (SPA) Kawasaki
9. Troy Corser (AUS) BMW
10. Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki
World Superbike Magny-Cours Race Two results:
1. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati
2. Marco Melandri (ITA) Yamaha
3. Eugene Laverty (IRL) Yamaha
4. Leon Haslam (GBR) BMW
5. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Ducati
6. Leon Camier (GBR) Aprilia
7. Joan Lascorz (SPA) Kawasaki
8. Ayrton Badovini (ITA) BMW
9. Troy Corser (AUS) BMW
10. Nori Haga (JPN) Aprilia
