Checa: no regrets about WSBK move

The Spanish veteran announced earlier this month that he had signed for WSBK champions Ten Kate Honda.

"Here, good opportunities to challenge at the front, for me, were not (there) anymore," said Checa in the pre-race press conference at Sepang.

"After the Suzuka Eight Hours I really enjoyed that race and to ride that bike especially. From there I started thinking strongly about moving to Superbikes.

"For me, at this time, I think it's the correct move. It will be a new experience, a new challenge, and refreshing. I hope I can enjoy it much more."

Checa said he was content with his achievements in MotoGP, where he had taken two victories and was fourth in the 1998 championship.

"It has been up and down. If you are not winning it looks like you did not make the goal, but basically I'm quite satisfied with all that I did," he said.

"I've been fighting all the years, trying to learn every year. Of course we maybe missed some more wins, but it's never easy to try to be in front and win.

"I feel okay with all the experience and all the performances I did, and the life I've decided to take. Of course I have very good memories.

"The last two years I tried to choose the best combination to make it better, but we were quite far away in technical areas, but anyway, we tried.

"I still feel strong to continue racing and probably in Superbikes I will be able to show my performance at the top level."

When asked if he could pinpoint the best and the worst bikes that he had experienced in MotoGP, Checa admitted that getting to grips with the customer 800cc Honda at LCR this year had been his biggest challenge.

"Probably with Ducati was the best combination I had, and the worst is difficult to say, but this year is probably the most difficult yet," he said.

"I don't want to say Honda is bad or anything like that. But probably this year is the most difficult with the new regulations - tyres and also 800cc - and the way Honda treated these new regulations and made the bike. For me, I couldn't set up this combination with a good feeling."