Althea Racing

The two Althea Racing riders Carlos Checa and Davide Giugliano were back on track at Monza today for the qualifying sessions of this fourth round of the 2012 World Championship. During a wet Superpole, Checa earned himself a place on the front row of tomorrow’s grid, in fourth position, while Giugliano will line up on the second row, in eighth place.

Earlier this morning, in variable conditions (air temperature 17˚C, track 18˚C), Checa and Giugliano waited until the final phase of the qualifying session before going out on a damp track. Carlos completed a series of laps in the last fifteen minutes, recording a best time of 1m45.1, while Davide took to the track right at the end of the session, completing just three laps with a fastest time of 1m46.2. Considering the track conditions, no-one was able to improve on yesterday’s qualifying times which means that the Althea pair qualified in ninth (Carlos) and tenth (Davide) place for this afternoon’s Superpole.

During the early afternoon’s free practice session, and on a wet track that dried out during the course of the 45-minutes available, Checa and Giugliano worked with their technicians to test the tires. Times began to tumble towards the end of the session; Carlos was able to put in a 1m45.4 which put him in fourth place while Davide, who didn’t get in a ‘dry’ time, closed in eighteenth position with a best of 1m49.9.

Superpole was declared wet as although the rain had stopped, the asphalt remained very wet. Both riders went straight out on rain tires and remained inside the top ten for the duration of this first phase (20 minutes in length). Carlos closed in eventual fifth position with Davide eighth, both therefore passing to the second phase of the Superpole. The track was starting to dry once it came to the second phase but riders nevertheless took to the track on rain tires, with some of the top eight subsequently making some laps on slicks. Checa recorded a best of 1m56.7 which assured him of a place on the front row of tomorrow’s grid, in fourth place, while Giugliano will line up in eighth place thanks to a time of 2m00.6.

Carlos Checa:

“In dry conditions it would have been impossible to close in the top four. Fortunately the wet/damp track gave us a hand in today’s Superpole and we took advantage of those mixed conditions. It’s definitely an advantage to start from the front row but tomorrow’s races will surely be conditioned by the weather. If the track’s completely wet then we know what to do but in conditions like those of today everyone will end up taking a risk one way or the other with regard to tires.”

Davide Giugliano:

“It wasn’t easy but we’re satisfied with the work done and the fact that we’re on the second row. All day we’ve been working in these mixed conditions and if it’s like this tomorrow it’s be hard for all of us. Having said that it would have been difficult for the Ducati in the dry too, and so we’re happy with today’s result. We’ll see tomorrow how things are and then make some decisions.”