Although reluctant to comment in detail, team manager Ronald ten Kate stated: " I can confirm that we are speaking with Carlos, so he is one of the names on the list... We'll leave it at that at the moment!"
Ten Kate's only confirmed WSBK rider for 2008 is its World Supersport champion
Kenan Sofuoglu (see separate story), although BSB champion
Ryuichi Kiyonari has also been heavily linked to the team - which is expected to expand its existing two rider operation for next season.
34-year-old Checa, whose Honda LCR
MotoGP ride has already been handed to
Randy de Puniet for 2008, has been offered the chance to become a Ducati MotoGP test rider - but says he would prefer to race in WSBK.
Ten Kate hopes to settle its full 2008 line-up next time out at Vallelunga, on September 30, and make an announcement by the Magny-Cours season finale, on October 7, at the latest.
"For sure I'm going to walk away from the paddock at Magny Cours with a full rider line-up, which I will confirm to everybody, and I personally hope it'll be done at Vallelunga because the silly season has been really silly for us," added Ronald. "I really want it to end soon because it's causing a bit of a headache, especially because we cannot say all of the discussions and names involved. There is some secrecy and normally we are very much open and speak about things. So let's hope we can make some decisions as soon as possible."
Ten Kate's star rider,
James Toseland, will move to MotoGP with Tech 3 Yamaha in 2008.
