Get to know the grid: WSBK- David Checa #94

David Checa #94

from: http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/ Date of Birth 20/04/1980
Place of Birth	Barcelona, Spain
Nationality	Spanish
Residence	Barcelona, Spain
Height	178 cm
Weight	68 kg
Total Races	6

2008:	Yamaha GMT94, World Superbike Championship
2007:	12th, Supersport World Championship
2006:	11th World Supersport Championship, 3rd Le Mans 24 Hours
2005:	Winner Le Mans 24 Hours, 2nd Bol d’Or 24 Hours
2004:	World Champion Endurance, Winner of Oschersleben 24 hours and Zhuhaï 6 Hours rounds
2003:	3rd World Champion Endurance
2002:	13th GP250 World Championship
2001:	17th GP250 World Championship
2000:	19th GP250 World Championship

David Checa moves on up to World Superbike in 2008, having raced in the World Supersport Championship for the last two seasons with the Yamaha GMT94 Team.

The younger brother of Yamaha MotoGP star Carlos, David has considerable GP experience, having raced in the 250 class between 2000 and 2002, although he actually started racing in 1996. David came to international attention when he finished fourth in the 1998 European Supersport Championship. That was followed by a year as Ducati's test rider, before embarking on a three-year 250GP sojourn.

In 2003 David made a successful transition to four-strokes, racing an R1 in the Spanish championship and winning the Oschersleben 24-hour race with the GMT94 team. The introduction of the third-generation R1 in 2004 saw Checa and GMT94 dominate the Endurance World Championship to capture the title.

The team's decision not to defend its title in 2005 led to a slightly disjointed campaign, although Checa was successfully entered into the two key 24-hour races – the Le Mans and the Bol d’Or. He formed part of the winning GMT94 trio at Le Mans and finished second at the Bol d’Or. As the main tester for Pirelli’s WSB control tyre that year as well, the Spaniard contested a handful of WSB races. He impressed with each WSB outing, scoring points at every race and taking a best of ninth place at home in Valencia. Those performances also brought him to the attention to Yamaha's MotoGP operation and he was drafted in to ride the YZR-M1 as a substitute for the injured Toni Elias at three GPs.

In 2006 Checa embarked on a full season in World Supersport and shone at round six of the championship were he finished fourth. He ended that year in 11th following a fifth place at the last round at Magny-Cours. Last year David continued his WSS challenge, showing consistency to finish 12th overall.

For 2008, Checa remains loyal to the Yamaha GMT94 team, making the move with them back into World Superbike alongside his long-time team mate Sébastien Gimbert.