Another succesful bike racing weekend when both World Superbike and MotoGP were off racing this weekend. Carlos Checa became the World Superbike-champion in the penultimate weekend with victory in race 1.
He went on to win race 2 although the victory in the first race was more than enough to secure him his first World Superbike-title. The Team Althea Racing rider has had a great season so far. He started the season with a double victory at Philip Island and from there he controlled the standings much of the way. Despite being under pressure from Marco Melandri, Eugene Laverty and Max Biaggi he kept it together. With 14 race victories the Ducati rider has won more races than anyone this year.
“I’m so happy to win my first world title and so happy I did it aboard a Ducati,” Carlos Checa said. “My sincere thanks go to Team Althea Racing and everyone at Ducati who has worked hard to help me get these results. Together we’ve done a great job this year, immediately starting the season well against fast riders on very competitive bikes.”
Meanwhile in MotoGP the Grand Prix circus were off to Japan and Motegi. Casey Stoner continued to dominate the early proceedings with pole from which he stormed off into the lead. But an unusual mistake from the championship leader where he briefly went off the track handed the lead to team mate Dani Pedrosa. The Grand Prix was dramatic with several riders going off but up front Pedrosa and Lorenzo fought hard. In the end Pedrosa came home first to take his first victory at Motegi closely followed by Lorenzo. Stoner fought back to finish third ahead of Simoncelli who overtook Doviozo for fourth place late in the race.
Next Grand Prix is Australian in two weeks time.