Carlos Checa believes it is important he leaves Assen with as many points as possible with one of Althea Racing's toughest tracks looming on the horizon. The Dutch round comes two weeks before a trip to Monza where top end speed, not one of the Ducati 1098R's strengths, is vital.
Checa expects his bike to perform well this weekend though and is hopeful of extending his championship lead which currently stands at four points.
“Imola was a really fantastic event that couldn't have gone better for me! I'm really happy with how it went, also because those points gained are vital for the championship. Now we must turn our attentions to Assen, where I hope to make two strong races before we head to Monza – that will undoubtedly be more difficult for the Ducati. Last year we did well at the TT circuit, a win and a third place – we'll be aiming for similar results again this time around.”
While Checa won both races at Imola, teammate Davide Giugliano failed to score a point after a nightmare Sunday. The Italian did win at Assen on the way to last year's Superstock 1000 title though so is feeling positive ahead of this weekend.
“Imola was a weekend to forget as far as I'm concerned. I've continued to concentrate on training over the last weeks in order to be in the best possible condition to face the next races at Assen. I like the Dutch track and am feeling confident. I'll work together with my team and will be ready for two good races come Sunday.”