Monza (Italy), Friday 10 May 2013: Checa and Badovini (Team SBK Ducati Alstare) faced mixed conditions today at Monza, finishing the first qualifying session in eleventh and twelfth respectively.
The first free practice session took place earlier this morning in heavy rain. Despite the difficult conditions, Ayrton was able to make an immediate impression, recording a best lap of 2’06.1 which projected him to the front of the field in the final minutes. The Italian rider concluded the session in second position, just two tenths of a second behind session leader Rea. Carlos, who has been receiving intense treatment for his injured left shoulder over recent days, took things more easily during this opening session, recording a best time of 2’09.5 to close in thirteenth position.
In the afternoon’s qualifying session, on a still damp track that dried as the session progressed, Badovini made a first exit in which he was able to drop his times with each lap he made. In the second part of the session Checa too was able to improve his lap times, despite suffering pain in his shoulder. The two Ducati Alstare flag bearers closed with almost identical times – Carlos recorded a 1’44.7 in the final minutes, to finish eleventh while his team-mate Ayrton lapped in 1’44.8 which positioned him twelfth at the session’s end.
Checa and his technicians will continue with the scheduled work tomorrow before taking a decision with regard to the Spaniard’s participation in Sunday’s races.
Carlos Checa: “I must admit that my shoulder is giving me trouble. If it worsens tomorrow I’ll find it difficult to complete the races on Sunday. We’ll see how things go tomorrow – I’d like to try and make a string of consecutive laps and then, from there, we’ll see how I am physically and decide whether it’s worth trying to race or whether it’s better for me to concentrate on getting fit in time for Donington instead. With regard to the bike, I am losing a few tenths along each of the straights but we knew this would be the case. The chassis set-up is not bad, in the changes of direction etc. the bike’s behaved quite well today. We’ll continue to work tomorrow and then we’ll make a decision.”
Ayrton Badovini: “This morning in the wet I was lapping pretty well, I did a few laps and didn’t have too much trouble which I’m pleased about. In the dry this afternoon, it wasn’t so bad although we know that we would be suffering in terms of top speed. I expected worse to tell the truth. Physically I’m more or less ok though when I’m down low, tucked in on the bike, my neck is aching quite a bit, though I expected that to feel worse than it did today too, so all things considered it’s not been a bad day.”
TIMES (Qualifying): 1. Melandri (BMW) 1’42.8; 2. Rea (Honda) 1’43.1; 3. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1’43.5; 4. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’43.5; 5. Giugliano (Aprilia) 1’43.6; 6. Fabrizio (Aprilia) 1’43.8; 7. Laverty (Aprilia) 1’43.9; 8. Baz (Kawasaki) 1’43.9; 9. Camier (Suzuki) 1’44.1; 10. Cluzel (Suzuki) 1’44.4; 11. Checa (Ducati Alstare) 1’44.7; 12. Badovini (Ducati Alstare) 1’44.8
