World Superbike - Carlos Checa
08/30/2007

Date of birth : 10/15/1973
Place of birth : Sant Fruitos (Spain)
Size : 1,74 m
Weight : 69 kg
Nickname : El Toro
Marital status : single

Website : http://www.carloscheca.com

2007 : MotoGP world championship (Honda)
2006 : 15th MotoGP world championship (Yamaha)
2005 : 9th MotoGP world championship (Ducati)
2004 : 7th MotoGP world championship (Yamaha) - 1 pole
2003 : 7th MotoGP world championship (Yamaha)
2002 : 5th MotoGP world championship (Yamaha) - 1 pole
2001 : 6th 500 cc world championship (Yamaha)
2000 : 6th 500 cc world championship (Yamaha)
1999 : 7th 500 cc world championship (Yamaha)
1998 : 4th 500 cc world championship (Honda) - 1 win, 1 pole
1997 : 8th 250 cc world championship (Honda)
1996 : 8th 500 cc world championship (Honda) - 1 win
1995 : 16th 500 cc world championship, 13th 250 cc world championship (Honda)
1994 : 12th 250 cc world championship (Honda)
1993 : 23th 250 cc world championship, 27th 125 cc world championship (Honda)

With eleven consecutive seasons in the premier-class (500 cc and MotoGP), among which seven as a factory rider, Carlos Checa is one of the most experienced riders of the championship. The Catalan rider carried out a very promising beginning of career : 7th for his first 125 cc Grand Prix on the circuit of Barcelona in 1993, best privateer in 1994 for his first complete season in 250 cc. Recruited by Sito Pons in 1995, Carlos Checa moved to the 500 cc class to replace Alberto Puig, seriously injured on Le Mans circuit. Before his fans, he led the Catalunya during several laps before crashing. Still in the Spanish team, he won two races : in Barcelona in 1996 and in Jarama in 1998. This year, close to death after a high-speed crash, he came back on track seven weeks later and finished the championship in 4th position (his best classification). Chosen by the Yamaha factory in 1999, beside Max Biaggi, he didn't manage to win anymore. The change for 4-stroke engines, more adapted to his riding style, changed nothing. Sincerely loving his job (he raced for free for Tech 3 in 2006), Carlos Checa never succeeded in realising the potential foreseen at his debut, nor to impose himself like the team leader.

2006
7 - Carlos Checa (SPA, Yamaha)
Watercolours on 140 lbs paper,
12 x 16 "
April 2006

2005
7 - Carlos Checa (SPA, Ducati)
Watercolours on 140 lbs paper,
12 x 16 "
May 2005

2004
7 - Carlos Checa (SPA, Yamaha)
Watercolours on 140 lbs paper,
12 x 16"
May 2004

2003
7 - Carlos Checa (SPA, Yamaha)
Watercolours and India ink on 160 lbs paper,
8,9 x 11,1"
May 2003
7 - Carlos Checa (SPA, Yamaha)
Watercolours and India ink on 160 lbs paper,
8,9 x 11,1"
May 2003

1998
8 - Carlos Checa (SPA, Honda)
Watercolours on 140 lbs paper,
9,6 x 12 "
March 2006

1995
12 - Carlos Checa (SPA, Honda)
Watercolours on 140 lbs paper,
12 x 16 "
March 2007

[ ©  Mon petit atelier 2007]