CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS CHECA AND ALTHEA RACING PREPARE FOR SBK ROUND 3 AT ASSEN’S TT CIRCUIT THIS WEEKEND Assen (The Netherlands), Tuesday 17th April 2012: championship leaders Carlos Checa and the Althea Racing team are all set to return to the historic TT circuit of Assen, where round 3 of the World Superbike Championship is taking place this coming weekend. Ducati’s home track of Imola was the setting for Round 2 of the championship, which took place just over a fortnight ago. Carlos could not have done better in front of what he considers to be his adoptive home crowd, beating off competition, in the form of Sykes on the Kawasaki, to power his Ducati 1198 to a double win, and 50 precious championship points. These fantastic results mean that Checa and the Althea Racing team now lead in the general standings, with Ducati heading the manufacturer’s championship, as they prepare for round three. Carlos’ team-mate Davide Giugliano and his technicians have turned the page on a disappointing Imola round and will concentrate on taking the best possible results at a track where the young Italian rider has already shown strong form in the past. One year ago, Giugliano demonstrated his talents at this circuit by winning his Superstock 1000 race as he travelled the path towards the 2011 championship title win. In the Superbike class, Carlos was also celebrating success, with a race win and a third place finish at the Assen TT track. Both the riders and team will be hoping for similar results at this particular circuit, well aware that other, trickier tracks for the Ducati are looming. Carlos Checa: “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.” Checa’s Superbike form at Assen: 2011: Race 1 3rd, Race 2 – winner 2010: Race 1- 4th, Race 2 6th 2009: Race 1 DNF, Race 2 7th 2008: Race 1 2nd, Race 2 3rd Davide Giugliano: “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 to and will be ready for two good races come Sunday.” CIRCUIT DATA: Country: The Netherlands Name: TT Circuit Assen Length of circuit: 4.555 km Pole Position: left Length of straight: 560 m Race distance: 22 laps = 99.924 km LAP RECORDS: Best lap Rea (Honda) 1’36.312 (2010). Superpole Rea (Honda) 1’34.944 (2010). 2011 RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Rea (Honda); 2. Biaggi (Aprilia); 3. Checa (Ducati). Race 2 1. Checa (Ducati); 2. Biaggi (Aprilia); 3. Rea (Honda)