test2wa

Superbikes

Carlos Checa sent out a timely reminder that Ducati are not dead in the World Superbike Championship.

The Italian manufacturer made the shock announcement last week that it had pulled out of the 2011 season, bringing an end to a 22-year association with the series which has so far claimed 13 riders' titles.

But while there will be no official Ducati team on the grid next year several privateer teams will continue to use the 1198cc bikes and Checa showed they will remain competitive as he lapped the German circuit in a best time of one minute 55.232 seconds on his Althea Ducati.

Troy Corser's BMW was second, with Michel Fabrizio third aboard the factory Ducati and Checa's team-mate Shane Byrne in fourth.

Alitalia Aprilia rider Max Biaggi looks set to take the crown this season - he holds a 60-point lead over British rider Leon Haslam - but he was down in sixth place.

If Haslam fails to finish both races this weekend there is a mathematical chance for Biaggi to claim the crown if he wins a double.

Haslam could only manage 11th while the British Yamaha duo of Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland were seventh and 18th respectively.

Crutchlow was in sensational form to take a double victory at Silverstone last time out and looks set to clinch a ride in next year's MotoGP championship in the coming weeks.

But the 24-year-old Sterilgarda Yamaha rider - who remains down in fifth in the overall standings - managed to injure himself during the month away from the track and will not be fully fit at the Nurburgring this weekend.

He looked comfortable enough during his hour on the circuit but the test will be on race day when he must compete for two races.

Fabrizio, who like Haga faces an uncertain future, was pleased with his performance.

He said: "I'd say we made a good start today. I immediately had a good feeling with the tyre and we were able to do almost race distance during free practice which boosted my confidence.

"It's a pity I crashed; we'd made some changes to the rear of my bike which improved feeling and meant that I was pushing, perhaps a little too hard as I lost the front.

"Anyway we have good race pace, the tyres are working well and I'm pretty happy."