Checa, test rider for the GP machine

Marca took an interview to Carlos Checa in which the World SBK 2011 champion explained about his work on the new Moto GP machine and other stuff.

Now you’re Ducati’s test rider.

"Being Ducati’s MotoGP test rider is a great experience for me. This is a bike that starts from zero and gives me other sensations. It’s an important moment and I’m helping them as I can and trying to give them best information possible. I am delighted to collaborate on this project."
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The million euro question, will this bike help Rossi get ahead?

“I do not know, it’s hard to say because I haven’t tried the other bikes. I’d have to race the bike against others to see where we are. What I feel is that this motorcycle moves a lot, I see some limits on the chassis and this is what they’ll have to work on. I can’t give out other details because I’ve been forbidden to talk about it."

Will this Japanese style deltabox help Rossi?

"Everyone talks about the bike and the chassis, but what really defines the category are the tires. They are super rigid and it is difficult to feel their limit and it’s around the tires that the bike is designed. If this doesn’t change, the motorcycle won’t be fun, it’ll be confusing and easy to crash with. To me this is ruining the show in MotoGP, with riders crashing without knowing why. When you don’t know where is the limit on the tires is, it’s very difficult to develop a motorcycle. The problem is not the chassis, Ducati changed it four times and the result is always the same, the tires are the problem."

What do you think of the arrival of the CRTs?

“It’s a way to save the championship, because you can’t have a world championship with only 12 bikes. It’s a necessity to survive.”

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