Checa latest to withdraw from Turkish round

Carlos Checa joins Max Neukirchner, Jonathan Rea and Loris Baz on the sidelines in Turkey after suffering chest and wrist injuries, while Ayrton Badovini is also walking wounded...
Checa, German WSBK 2013
Checa, German WSBK 2013
© Gold and Goose

Carlos Checa has become the fourth full-time rider to withdraw from the Turkish round of the World Superbike Championship after suffering a contusion to the thorax and a possible fractured wrist in a crash during FP1.

With Jonathan Rea and Loris Baz already forced out of the event due to injuries sustained last time out at the Nurburgring, they have already been joined on the sidelines by Max Neukirchner, who suffered a broken hand in an accident during FP1 himself.

Furthermore, with Leon Camier being assessed in hospital with a broken foot and Checa's Alstare Ducati team-mate Ayrton Badovini suffering ligament damage to his ankle, the already slim WSBK grid could face losing as many as six riders this weekend.

For Checa, the fall at the ascending turn two left-hander resulted in a contusion to the upper thorax, while doctors are currently determining whether he has fractured the left scaphoid, or if he has aggravated an injury dating back to 1996.

"I have a lot of pain in the chest area on both the right and left side. I've also hurt my wrist but as there is already a screw there, resulting from an injury that dates back to 1996, it's not yet clear whether I've now fractured it again or not. I obviously cannot ride in this condition; the doctors have advised me to rest up."

Badovini, meanwhile, was another to come down in FP1, the Italian getting his foot caught up in the Ducati as they came down. Fortunate not to break a bone, Badovini says he is determined to race on despite painful ligament damage.

"We didn't need the crash of course, my foot was trapped between the track and bike but fortunately, thanks to my boot, the damage was limited. I have however stretched all the ligaments in my left ankle and broken a vein, which is the reason for the swelling.

"The doctors tell me that, as long as I rest up today and keep my ankle iced, then I should be a in a position to ride tomorrow - I won't be in great shape of course but I'll do my best."

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