Althea Racing

With Round 4 of the World Superbike championship having come to a close just two days ago, the Althea Racing team heads straight to the UK, and Donington, where riders Carlos Checa and Davide Giugliano look forward to participating in two full races, after the strange circumstances of Monza.

Suffice to say that the wet weather conditioned race day proceedings at the Autodromo Nazionale in Monza. Race 1 was started, stopped, and then cancelled due to heavy rainfall while race 2 took place after a delayed start, although riders only completed eight of the planned sixteen laps. Althea’s Checa closed in seventh position, followed across the line by teammate Giugliano in eighth place; all riders took half points for their efforts.

At last season’s Donington round on the other hand, Carlos scored his best Superbike result at that track thus far, with a third place finish in race 1 and a win in race 2, where he crossed the line 3.3 seconds ahead of Melandri, second. Davide has not had any recent experience of the Donington track as in recent years the Superstock 1000 category has not raced there. He last raced here in 2008, in the Superstock 1000 category, reaching the podium in third position.

After four rounds of the 2012 championship, Carlos has already accumulated three wins and a third place finish, earning himself second position in the rider’s classification with 95.5 points right behind Biaggi, who holds 97.5. Giugliano is still tenth with 41 points. Ducati leads the manufacturer’s championship with 140.5 points to Aprilia’s 108.

Carlos Checa:

“After the strange situation at Monza, we are hoping for a more ‘normal’ race weekend at Donington, and two full-length races! Last year went really well for me at the English track, after some less positive results in earlier years, and so I hope that this season’s Donington round will be my best yet. Competition will be tough, with several strong British riders fighting to win at home, but I too am ready for battle!”

Checa’s Superbike form at Donington:

2011: Race 1 – 3rd, Race 2 - winner
2010: n/a
2009: Race 1 – 11th, Race 2 – DNF
2008: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 9th

Davide Giugliano:

“I like the track, or at least I remember that I liked it back in 2008, the last time I raced there! It will be interesting to go back and see how it is in 2012. In the Stock I reached the podium but I know it won’t be easy this weekend, especially with the whole British contingent. I feel confident anyway, and we hope to at least have more stable weather conditions in order to be able to race in a regular fashion.”