Althea confirms Checa, Giugliano for 2012

Althea Racing has formally announced its plans for the 2012 World Superbike Championship season with the confirmation that Carlos Checa and Davide Giugliano will ride for the team.

As was reported over the final round of the season, Checa will stay on board with the Althea Ducati team he won the 2011 championship with after a last-minute intervention from the Ducati factory halted a shock move elsewhere for 2012.

Additionally, Althea, having persevered with just one bike for Checa in 2011, will expand to two Ducati 1098Rs in 2012 with the signing of Giugliano.

Giugliano steps up to the Superbike class after winning the FIM Superstock 1000 championship with Althea Racing, the Italian rewarded for his title win by getting a debut outing on the bike at Portimao, where he proceeded to finish just outside the top ten.

Althea's announcement comes after its manager Genesio Bevilacqua was involved with intense negotiations with Ducati over the level of support it would receive in 2012. Nonetheless, he is delighted to have come to an agreement that would keep Checa on his machine.

"We have finally reached an agreement with Ducati that was very important for the continuation of our long term plans. Things took a little longer than expected but fortunately we have resolved these problems in a very positive way, with the help of Ducati and the good sense of all involved.

"I hope this announcement clears up any doubts as I know some wrong information has come out in the press in recent days. Everything is now in place and to be able to announce this at the end of the final race of the 2011 season allowed us to conclude an extremely memorable season, for us, for Ducati and for Carlos in the best possible way.

"Now what we must do is continue to fight as we have this year, even more so as we will surely be penalized as far as weight on our bike is concerned. We are extremely confident: Carlos and Davide are very determined, the team is more united than ever before and we are sure we can provide the riders with all necessary support.

"Particular thanks goes to Claudio Domenicali, and to Ducati for deciding to support our team in a difficult period such as this. We will do our best to repay this trust, as we have done this season, as we strive to repeat the kind of success that sacrifice and passion have allowed us to achieve this year."