Cycle News

P34 WIND that followed the Catalan GP in June; this was the first time that particular version of the machine had been ridden, as rain had prevented Casey Stoner from doing so at his last Motegi test. Marquez and Dani Pedrosa also worked with the current bike, focusing on a new swingarm and new rear suspension. Yamaha, meanwhile, were working on a new engine – for the 2014 season. Suzuki was also at the test with Randy de Puniet serving as the main tester alongside Nobuatsu Aoki. Monday also saw Yonny Hernandez on the Pramac Ducati as a substitute for the injured Ben Spies. CHECA SPEAKS OF RETIRING C arlos Checa has had such a disastrous season in 2013 few could blame him for hanging up his boots anytime now. And when he crashed on Friday morning in Istanbul - hard and heavy again - he certainly could have walked away then and there. But he was still in the paddock on Saturday, waiting to go home on Sunday, with a large cast and bandage on his left wrist. "The last time I broke one bone was in 1996, I think," Checa said. "We have to see because I broke a bone there in the past so we have to see if it is an old one or from now. I think it is new. Yesterday there was a big pain in the wrist and normally when you crash and you break some bones more than one time then you know if it is broken. There is already a screw in there from 1996. Every two or three years I check with Dr. Mir in Barcelona and it has always been stable has not moved so he told me that maybe when I stop racing he might remove it. If it continues like this, maybe he will not remove it anymore…! "Right now there is a line there Carlos Checa is contemplating retirement. and I think it is from now. On Sunday, I will make a scan or a TAC in Barcelona, we will see what kind they want to see exactly what is there. Dr. Mir has been following me from the beginning of racing. When we know what it is we will see how much time we need to recover? Of course, I want to know if I will be okay to be in America [Laguna Seca – September 27-29] or not. America is very close, in two weeks, and I think if I am not in America I will not be in Magny-Cours – I think." Of staying on in racing, Checa said: "Here it is difficult even if with Ducati I have very good rela- tions. I want to do well with Ducati, but I try this year and there is no way for me to succeed. My wish is to bring the Panigale in the top, but we are very far. I do not think I can do it next year. For me this is clear. On the other side, at this moment I have some options, but not something if I sign today then I can go there. My manager has been talking about some projects and probably the closest, the more interesting is Kawasaki. But I need to consider. This year I am quite tired. This year has been very hard for me." "In some ways yes [I think about retiring], but on the other PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE IN THE

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