Carlos Checa returns to ride the Panigale R at the Superbike tests at Mugello
Carlos Checa returns to the track, riding the Panigale R in its Superbike version, to support the work of the Ducati development team. The Spanish rider, who officially retired from competition at the end of 2013, will be present during the three days of testing that Ducati Corse has arranged at the Mugello circuit, from 30 June to 2 July.
Checa’s talent and technical ability will prove useful in further developing the Panigale R that, race after race, is increasingly high-performing and competitive. The milestone reached at Misano, with Ducati scoring its 800th Superbike podium, and the positive results that the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team is achieving, confirm that the Borgo Panigale bikes are once more playing a starring role in the series for production-derived bikes.
Checa – who will in this case substitute for test rider Luca Scassa, injured at the Misano round in which he was taking part as a wildcard entry – has remained close to Ducati since retiring from racing, undertaking the role of brand ambassador, and has also maintained a high level of training and physical preparation. Carlos has recently concluded his first session as an instructor at the “Champs Academy”, the Elite programme at the DRE (Ducati Riding Experience) that took place from 15 to 17 June at the same Mugello circuit.
The Spanish rider, who is not considering making a return to racing, had already offered his services to Ducati for any eventual Superbike tests. Now the occasion presents itself and Carlos is ready to return to the track. Ducati Corse is enthusiastic about working with the former world champion once again and confident that they will be able to collate useful and constructive feedback over the scheduled three days.
Carlos Checa: “I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to return to the track with the Ducati Panigale R Superbike. The project continues to develop and I’m honoured and happy to be able to make a contribution. I hope, once I’ve shaken off a few cobwebs, to be able to provide the team with useful feedback. It’s been a while since I rode a Superbike and I want to stress that I’m not thinking to return to racing. I just like the idea of experiencing some of the excitement that I enjoyed during my career and plan to be fully focused and committed during the three days of testing.”
