HANNspree Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa (Photo: Honda Pro Images) » More Photos

UNIQUE MONZA EXPERIENCE LOOMING FOR CHECA AND CO

Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) will experience another new track in his rookie SBK season this weekend at Monza, but given how quickly he has adapted to the challenge of the World Superbike Championship the 5.793km circuit should hold no concerns for the 35-year-old Spanish rider.

Honda riders have enjoyed success at the classic parkland track in the past, a fact that Honda’s supported riders will be looking to confirm at the fastest circuit on the SBK calendar. Despite several slow chicanes dotted around the layout, Monza has an average lap speed of almost 200kmph in qualifying trim, and in the right conditions that barrier could be broken. DFX Honda rider Michel Fabrizio took his 2007 model Fireblade to a top speed of 322.7kmph in qualifying last year, breaking the 200mph barrier officially for the first time in SBK history.

Checa, having been mounted on a 2008 specification Fireblade from the outset of this season, is currently second in the championship, some 70 points behind early runaway leader Troy Bayliss. With his first career WSB victory almost within his grasp on more than one occasion this season already, Checa hopes to use the power of his Honda Fireblade to make an early break from the pack of leading riders that usually forms during most races at Monza. The effects of slipstreaming and heavy braking for the numerous chicanes usually makes for close racing at this venue, and with so many riders on competitive machinery, this year’s races are expected to be particularly tight affairs.

Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) is another first-year Honda World Superbike hopeful to have shown flashes of real class, but thus far a podium finish has eluded him. Two no scores so far have held him back in 12th overall, but like his other team-mate, Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Jr) Monza offers him a genuine chance to move up the championship table. Sofuoglu was the winner of the Monza WSS race last year, on the way to world champion status in the 600cc class. Sofuoglu is now 16th, on 26 points.

Second best Honda rider in the championship chase so far is a former WSB regular, now a Honda privateer, Gregorio Lavilla (Vent Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR). Consistency has been the keyword in Lavilla’s first Honda SBK season, and the combination of his competitive spirit and the talents of his small but highly proficient team have already put him firmly inside the top ten.

Karl Muggeridge (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) is currently one place and one point behind Sofuoglu, after two points scoring rides at the previous round in Assen.

Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR) will miss out on the Monza race after breaking his left collarbone during a mountain bike training fall. Rolfo hopes to be ready to race at the next round, at Miller Motorsports Park in the USA, on June 1.

A first year in SBK racing for Muggeridge’s teammate Russell Holland (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) has been a tough challenge so far but he has scored points already, a factor which places him above Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR riders Shuhei Aoyama and Luca Morelli.

Checa stated: “After our successful race at the team’s home track in Assen we want to continue the progress, so we will not change too much on the bike ahead of the next race in Monza. This is a new track for me, but judging the layout of the circuit I think it will suit me and I shouldn’t take me too long to familiarize myself with the track. The engine performance will be important and we will have to focus on the chicanes in particular. We’ll need to use the full potential of the bike on a fast track like Monza.”

Kiyonari said: "I was hoping to continue my progress for the team’s home race in Assen but haven’t been very fortunate. My crash in free practice, just before the Superpole qualifying, didn’t give me the chance to test the qualifiers and get a good result. I hope I can do better this weekend. Monza is a new track to me, but I will have to familiarise myself with the track quickly and keep my lap times consistent. In Assen I tried to improve my starts and increase my corner speed, hopefully I can continue doing so in the Monza races and make my way to the front of the field.”

Sofuoglu said: "I still struggle with my riding style on the CBR1000RR. The set up of the bike seems to be fine. I just can’t put my finger on why my performance hasn’t improved that much. My last race in Assen was far from satisfactory for me, but I have set my goal for Monza realistically and hope to be able to ride a consistent race and narrow the gap with the riders in front. I need a good race to boost my confidence."

Rolfo explained: “I’m really disappointed because I won’t be able to participate at the Monza races as it’s my home circuit. After last year’s encouraging first race I was eager to compete, and also hoping to obtain good results. From Thursday, with the help of the Clinica Mobile doctors, I’ll start intensive rehabilitation to make sure that I’ll be in top condition for the next race in the USA.”

Lavilla said, “We have had a good start to the year despite being behind some of the others in terms of development. To be second highest Honda rider right now is satisfying for me, and a great credit to my team in their first World Superbike season. I think the team has been quite intelligent with the set-up and approach to each race weekend.”

World Superbike makes its first return to the USA since 2004 after the Monza race weekend, with the first ever WSB race at Miller Motorsports Park, near Salt Lake City in Utah, taking place on Sunday June 1.