Team SBK Ducati Alstare in Italy for SBK Round 4 at Monza The historic Monza circuit will host the World Superbikes this coming weekend and Team SBK Ducati Alstare and its riders Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini are busy preparing to race at what is the fastest track on the championship calendar. Just over a week ago the Ducati Alstare outfit participated in Round 3 of the championship at Assen in The Netherlands. Despite some solid results in the practice sessions, neither rider was able to secure the results they had hoped for in Sunday’s races. Carlos’ situation was not helped by the pain he felt in his left shoulder during the races, and which worsened over the following days. A medical check-up for Carlos post-Assen unfortunately revealed an osseous edema on the head of the humerus of the left shoulder, an injury that probably results from a previous trauma and which has worsened and become inflamed as a result of effort made during the races. The Spanish rider has undergone an intense course of physiotherapy treatment to reduce the inflammation and the trauma, in order to be physically fit for this weekend’s races at Monza. Checa’s best result at the track thus far was a seventh place finish in race 2 just last season. Badovini has had mixed results at this challenging Italian track in recent years. His best Superbike result to date was sixth in 2011, while he won his Stock 1000 race the previous year. With many of the team’s sponsors based in the north of Italy, Team SBK Ducati Alstare and the riders will be able to count on the support of several hundred guests at this weekend’s event. Set in extensive parkland, the historic ‘Autodromo di Monza’ was constructed in 1922 and is today characterized by two long straights, the longest of which measures 1195m. The World Championship has visited the Monza racetrack almost every year since 1990, with the exceptions of ’91 e ’94. Last year’s round was disrupted by heavy rain and related safety concerns that resulted in the cancellation of race 1 and a shortened race 2. Carlos Checa: ‘During the last couple of events, especially in the races themselves, I’ve been having some problems with my left shoulder but the evening after the second race in Assen the pain got a lot worse. I went to see a specialist once I got back to Spain after that round and unfortunately he’s told me that I have an osseous edema on the humerus. I will continue to receive treatment in Spain up until Thursday and I hope that that will help me to get through this coming weekend without any problems.’ Checa’s Superbike form at Monza: 2012: Race 1 – n/a, Race 2 – 7th 2011: Race 1 – 9th, Race 2 – 10th 2010: Race 1- 14th, Race 2 – 11th 2009: Race 1 – 9th, Race 2 – 10th 2008: Race 1 – 8th, Race 2 – DNF Ayrton Badovini: ‘I’ve always enjoyed the Monza round, it’s always fun to race at home. It will be challenging because of the long straights but we’ll do our best to bring home the best possible result. Being one of two Italian events, I hope that there’ll be a good crowd, fans, sponsors… The support of the people, at an event like Monza, really helps and spurs me on.’ Badovini’s Superbike form at Monza: 2012: Gara 1- n/a, Gara 2 – 10th 2011: Gara 1- 11th, Gara 2 – 6th 2008: Gara 1 – DNF°, Gara 2 – 9th CIRCUIT DATA Country: Italy Name: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza Length of circuit: 5.777 km Pole Position: left Length of straight: 1195 m Race distance: 18 laps = 103.986 km LAP RECORDS: Best lap – Crutchlow (Yamaha) 1’42.937 (2010). Superpole – Biaggi (Aprilia) 1’41.745 (2011). 2012 RESULTS: Race 1 – CANCELLED. Race 2 – 1. Sykes (Kawasaki); 2. Haslam (BMW); 3. Laverty (Aprilia).