Checa settles into new home.

Carlos Checa is the latest motorcycling star to settle down in Britain, joining MotoGP series leader Valentino Rossi and 250 championship leader Marco Melandri as UK residents.

But while the Italian youngsters were attracted by the hurly burly of London, the Spanish Marlboro Yamaha Team star has chosen the quieter charms of North Yorkshire. Checa, born in San Fruitos near Barcelona, is a lover of the great outdoors and has rented an apartment in Great Ayton on the edge of the moors.

"I love it up here," says the 29-year old, who has previously lived in Surrey in the south of England, "It's quiet and very beautiful. The only problem is the weather - it rains a little too much! I first came here two years ago with my team manager Geoff [Crust] and I liked the area straight away, it really suits me, I feel comfortable here."

Checa is a keen mountain walker - he's done overnight treks in the Alps and the Pyrenees - and is already enjoying stepping out on the nearby moors.

"The countryside around here is great for walking and the air is so clean," he adds, "Also, me and [girlfriend] Gina are both quite keen on history and there's a lot of that around here - old castles, stately homes and so on."

In fact there's plenty of history right on Checa's doorstep. He lives in a converted Victorian school, built in 1846, and Great Ayton was the childhood home of eighteenth century explorer Captain James Cook, who set sail on his voyages from nearby Whitby. A replica of the Endeavour, the ship in which he discovered Australia, is moored in the town's port.

"We've already been to Whitby and a few other places, but my main priority when I'm up here is rest and relaxation," Checa smiles, "And, of course, it's nice to visit the Royal Oak pub across the road from where I live!

"Everyone's very friendly around here, it seems like there's a lot of old people, and many of them come up to me after races and ask how I got on, which is nice. After the Sachsenring, Gina and I are planning to spend a few days touring around Scotland, maybe on my Yamaha Bulldog. I've never been up there and I really want to check it out."