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More bad news: WSS race shortened by 6 laps due to tyre wear concerns, WSBK races could also be shortened. Decision to be made some time today.

That hurt to watch the replay. Has Checa got up?

He's in the medical centre for check ups.

Ducati’s Carlos Checa has been released from hospital and is heading home today.

The 40-year old Spaniard was involved in a collision on Sunday with BMW’s Marco Melandri during the first round of World Superbike at Phillip Island, Australia.

The accident occurred during Race 1 when Checa ran into the back of Melandri at Siberia corner sending both riders to the ground. Melandri emerged unscathed but Checa crashed heavily and was knocked unconscious.

Checa was examined and treated at the circuit’s Medical Centre before later being transferred to Melbourne hospital for further checks and a precautionary overnight stay.

Alstare team owner, Francis Batta, blamed the new Ducati’s lack of top speed for the crash: “It’s clear that our bike is down on speed compared to our competitors, so Carlos has been having to make up for that on the brakes and in the turns.”

Checa finished Saturday’s Superpole qualifying session in first place on his Ducati 1199R but it was one of the slower bikes through the speed-trap and posted the 11th fastest top speed at 300.8 km/h (187 mph) – beaten by the Suzuki of Camier, Rea’s Honda, both factory Kawasaki’s, both Goldbet BMW’s and all four Aprilia’s with Guintoli’s Aprilia topping the speed-charts at 316.7 km/h (197 mph).

Batta was delighted with Checa’s qualifying result but said: “We need to improve our speed so that Carlos and Ayrton can compete with our rivals. This bike is very new for all of us, but we are working as hard as we can and making progress every time we go out on the track. I’m sure we will keep improving and be in a good position to challenge for podiums next time out.”

Fortunately, both Checa and his injured team-mate, Ayrton Badovini (broken heel and bruised liver), now have seven weeks to recover before the next round on 14th April at Aragon, Spain.

Since SPEED in the US has apparently shunned the races this year, is there anywhere else I can watch or download the Superbike and Supersport races?

The US coverage has been picked up by some channel called BeIN Sport. Don't know anything about them but they show the races live with the world feed commentary.

Thanks for the link Metzo.

Those photos are from his crash in Friday's free practice session (no wonder he described it as the biggest crash of his career) and his race 1 incident happened at Honda Corner not Siberia. He was released from hospital today.