Cycle News

VOL. 50 ISSUE 43 OCTOBER 29, 2013 dunno," he said. "It is because I know everyone there, I know all the mechanics, and the bike is a winning bike. After a really hard sporting year, maybe it would have been a great satisfaction to do something in one side. On the other side I think that I have nothing to show to anyone; I know what I can do, and I know what I did this year. It was more for people working there, for other people. Then Genesio arrived with Aprilia and with an Aprilia I know I can go on that bike and probably I can be in front, so that was attractive. But it was also to repeat something. Not discover so now for me it more attractive to discover another life." He is also pleased that he managed to keep his relationship with Ducati, which was his original intent. But the news from Ducati Corse Chief Bernard Gobmeier that he would be a Ducati ambassador, and even a test rider, was news to Checa, dropped on him at the retirement press conference. "I did not know that, and I am very pleased," Checa said. "I have really good, close and warm relationship with Ducati and this - for sure - I will keep. Ambassador, or not ambassador. For me I am very pleased to continue with them in some roles. We still have to decide which ones still. Ambassador, image, do something. Test rider? We will see, but today I cannot tell you. Maybe in two months when I am jumping and dancing, riding enduro and ski- ing. Maybe it will be me that says, 'please, let me try the bike!' But not today." The shining highlight of the entire painful Panigale season is his Superpole win in Australia, and it is a fond memory even in a race weekend that was hard all the other times. "I did a really good lap time and I know that the limit of the Panigale is the power," he said. "We are 30 horsepower behind the others and when you do not have that power it is impossible, especially this year with the tires that are now even from last year, the manufacturers understand that more power is better. Not like in the past with the other tires. Now the difference of the power is so huge, 240 so it is around 30 hp. We can fight against that, the chassis is something we can manage, and in some track, maybe not everyone. But it was really clear for me when we tested the bike – not in Misano – but in Aragon, we are losing the same time as the old bike on the straight, and we have some problems with the chassis at that time. I really knew that this year was not going to be a sportive challenge; it was a technical challenge. "I changed my approach from the beginning, even if I won Superpole in Australia. That was more instinct and heart. Unfortunately, it was a hard weekend for me because I had the problems with my stomach illness, nothing to do with the bike, but then the crashes, one that broke my foot P81 and the other that hit my head, and a little bit the shoulder. That shoulder would carry on through go karting and the bicycle. Even if I do not have the shoulder problem, I did not think it was going to change so much because to finish eighth or ninth, rather than sixth, is not all that different. Different. I accepted that challenge and the first time I rode that bike I knew very well that it was impossible for me to win the championship. It was more for Ducati, for this new bike, a technical challenge. "Honestly I am not unhappy to have tried it, even if I broke my ass, because you never know? It is something we tried and if we did not try, in this moment, I would be thinking, maybe…? Now I tried it and I know very well. If I look back now I feel really satisfied with the things I have seen, the places I have been, all the bikes, all the people I know and all the relationships I make and it is made me what I am now. I know I am not the best rider in the world and probably not the best person, but I try to improve every year. I really know my limitations. I have been riding with many other riders that are better than me, but for sure I am a lot better than when I started. I made good progress and I feel I am a much better rider and probably person than when I start racing 20 years ago. I am satisfied, to start 20 years ago and then finish by announcing my retirement here in Jerez, it is nice." CN

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