Biaggi Is the Man to Beat in 2011 - Checa

Once a new season kicks off in the World Superbike next season, it's only natural for everyone to fear the reigning world champion. And it's indeed Max Biaggi everyone is pointing fingers at when referring to the 2011 title fight, including veteran rider and former MotoGP competitor Carlos Checa.

The Spanish rider will continue to get on the saddle of a customer Ducati for Althea team in the 2011 WSBK championship, a squad for which he won a total of 3 races throughout the recently ended campaign. And although some see him as a top contender for the title, Checa is careful enough to evaluate his competition early.

“Biaggi is definitely the man to beat,” said Checa in a recent interview with Bikeracing.it, after which he named a few other riders which will likely have an important saying in the 2011 title equation.

“Marco (Melandri) will not surprise anyone if he proves to be fighting at the front, Eugene Laverty has already shown he has what it takes to be able to stay with the leaders. As for Honda's Jonathan Rea, he has shown already this year to fight for victory, only to get injured in the season finale.”

“We'll see if Haslam will be able to bring the BMW to the front - personally I think he has quite a job to do. Then you will have to keep an eye on the Kawasaki, Haga on the Aprilia... We just hope we can do a season as players and be able to fight for the championship,” concluded Checa, who finished the 2010 campaign as the third best rider of the pack.