After a win and a third place at Assen this weekend, Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) has extended his WSBK Championship lead to 43 points after only six races — meaning he already has almost two race wins in hand over defending champion Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia), who now sits second overall.
Placing third in race one, behind Biaggi and Castrol Honda rider Jonathan Rea, Checa claimed his fifth consecutive podium finish. Race two saw the same three men on the podium with Checa on top this time and Rea in third. Having changed to a softer tire for the second contest, Checa was able to take the lead on lap three and hold off the hard charging Biaggi until, with three laps to go, the Spaniard went wide and allowed the Aprilia rider to slip by. But Checa showed his credentials by snatching victory away from the defending champion with a daring last ditch pass while entering the final lap.
Yamaha rider Marco Melandri, Checa’s closest rival before Assen, placed fourth in race one, but crashed out of race two while pushing hard to grab the final podium spot from Rea. The Italian now sits third overall, while Irishman Rea has moved into fourth.
The next round takes place at Monza, Italy on May 8th.
2011 Assen World Superbike Race 1 Results
1. Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 35’46.486
2. Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 0’00.739
3. Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 0’03.572
4. Marco Melandri Yamaha ITA 0’09.508
5. Michel Fabrizio Suzuki ITA 0’09.892
6. Troy Corser BMW AUS 0’11.120
7. Eugene Laverty Yamaha GBR 0’15.235
8. Ruben Xaus Honda ESP 0’30.081
9. Ayrton Badovini BMW ITA 0’32.072
10. Mark Aitchison Kawasaki AUS 0’35.000
11. Joan Lascorz Kawasaki ESP 0’43.287
12. Leon Haslam BMW GBR 0’45.289
13. Barry Veneman BMW NED 0’45.298
14. Tom Sykes Kawasaki GBR 0’50.764
DNF
15. Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 18 laps completed
16. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati FRA 18 laps completed
17. Leon Camier Aprilia GBR 17 laps completed
18. Maxime Berger Ducati FRA 10 laps completed
19. Chris Vermeulen Kawasaki AUS 8 laps completed
20. Noriyuki Haga Aprilia JPN 6 laps completed
21. Roberto Rolfo Kawasaki ITA 3 laps completed
2011 Assen World Superbike Race 2 Results
1. Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 35’38.693
2. Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 0’00.524
3. Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 0’03.584
4. Leon Camier Aprilia GBR 0’05.913
5. Leon Haslam BMW GBR 0’16.916
6. Eugene Laverty Yamaha GBR 0’17.375
7. Michel Fabrizio Suzuki ITA 0’17.740
8. Noriyuki Haga Aprilia JPN 0’18.329
9. Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 0’18.378
10. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati FRA 0’18.404
11. Tom Sykes Kawasaki GBR 0’26.284
12. Joan Lascorz Kawasaki ESP 0’27.053
13. Maxime Berger Ducati FRA 0’38.614
14. Ruben Xaus Honda ESP 0’40.824
15. Ayrton Badovini BMW ITA 0’40.953
16. Roberto Rolfo Kawasaki ITA 0’40.982s
17. Barry Veneman BMW NED 0’45.423s
18. Mark Aitchison Kawasaki AUS +5 laps
DNF
19. Marco Melandri Yamaha ITA 16 laps completed
20. Troy Corser BMW AUS 7 laps completed
DNS Chris Vermeulen Kawasaki AUS
2011 WSBK Championship Standings (after round 3 of 13)
1 Carlos Checa Althea Ducati 132
2 Max Biaggi Aprilia Alitalia Racing 89
3 Marco Melandri Yamaha WSBK 85
4 Jonathan Rea Castrol Honda 79
5 Leon Haslam BMW Motorrad Motorsport 68
6 Leon Camier Aprilia Alitalia Racing 50
7 Jakub Smrz Effenbert Liberty Ducati 49
8 Michel Fabrizio Team Suzuki Alstare 47
9 Eugene Laverty Yamaha WSBK 35
10 Noriyuki Haga PATA Aprilia Racing Team 34
11 Joan Lascorz Kawasaki Racing Team 26
= Tom Skyes Kawasaki Racing Team 26
= Rubén Xaus Castrol Honda 26
= Troy Corser BMW Motorrad Motorsport 26
15 Ayrton Badovini BMW Italia 20
16 Sylvain Guintoli Effenbert Liberty Ducati 16
17 Roberto Rolfo Team Pedercini Kawasaki 12
18 Mark Aitchison Team Pedercini Kawasaki 7
19 Maxime Berger Supersonic Ducati 3
= Josh Waters Yoshimura Suzuki 3
= Barry Veneman BMW Italia 3
22 James Toseland BMW Italia 2
23 Bryan Staring Team Pedercini Kawasaki 1
24 Chris VermeulenKawasaki Racing Team 0
