Disappointed Checa loses out in straight-line fight

Carlos Checa says his fourth place finish in the second World Superbike Championship race was the best that he could manage after a day where the Ducati couldn't come close to replicating its dominant performance in qualifying.

Checa had started both races from his first pole position of the season after a peerless performance in Superpole, but laboured getaways left him embroiled in the middle of the lead group for the opening laps.

As it happens, Checa's first race would last less than three laps after making contact with former team-mate Jonathan Rea on the entry to the final corner.

Claiming the Honda rider didn't leave him enough room as they leant into the corner, the impact meant Checa's Althea Racing team was forced to build his rolling chassis for use in race two.

However, having dominated Superpole by four tenths of a second, Checa found that while he could get close to his rivals through the twistier part of the circuit, the lack of overtaking opportunities in his strongest section left him vulnerable to attack at the only realistic passing place on the circuit down the long straight.

Though he was still able to capitalise on the crashes for Max Biaggi, Leon Haslam, Jonathan Rea and Eugene Laverty ahead of him, Checa was frustrated to find his hard work in the more technical sections being undone by his top speed disadvantage

"We did what we could and that's how it went," he admitted. "In the first race we chose slick tyres - it would have been impossible to finish the race on rain tyres. It was a pity for the crash - I was fighting with Johnny for the position, he came too close to me, didn't leave me room and I lost the front when he touched the handlebar.

"We had to build the bike from the rolling chassis for race 2 as there were some problems with my bike after the crash. I had similar sensations to yesterday but had real difficulty on the straight - it was extremely difficult to pass, or even get close enough to attempt to do that."