Newly-crowned World Superbike champ Carlos Checa has vowed to treat this weekend's final round of the season like any other.
New world champion targets further victories in Portugal
Newly-crowned World Superbike champ Carlos Checa has vowed to treat this weekend's final round of the season like any other.
Checa admits he will inevitably be more relaxed but has vowed not to let up too much in Portugal.
With his maiden title all wrapped up with a double win last time out in Magny-Cours, the Spaniard could have been forgiven for easing up but he is eyeing the prospect of notching the highest number of race wins in a World Superbike Championship season for 20 years.
"I won't be changing anything this weekend, even if the situation has changed slightly in that I've won the title," said Checa.
"The challenge for me is to treat this like any other race. I will be a little more relaxed, of course, but not too relaxed!"
Satisfaction
Just one win from Sunday's two races in Portimao will give him the most race victories in a single season - 15 - since 1991, surpassing the 14 managed by Ben Spies in 2009 and Troy Bayliss in 2002.
Doug Polen's overall record of 17 victories, set in the 1991 season, will remain out of reach whatever the outcome on Sunday.
"I really like the track and think that we arrive there with the right ingredients to be able to make two great races," Checa continued.
"I will give it my all in order to take the greatest possible satisfaction at the end of the day.
"If we can win one of the races that would of course be the perfect end to what has been, for me, a perfect season."
Aprilia's Max Biaggi returns to action this weekend after missing the last two rounds in Italy and France with a foot injury.
