Before the Sprint on Saturday, the first Spanish World Superbike champion, Carlos Checa, will take a lap of honor, proudly displaying the colors representing the 4 decades of the Andalusian circuit.
Before the Sprint on Saturday, the first Spanish World Superbike champion, Carlos Checa, will take a lap of honor, proudly displaying the colors representing the 4 decades of the Andalusian circuit.April 22,2025. Although the action at the Spanish Grand Prix of MotoGP won't begin until Friday, April 25, it is fitting to begin unveiling some of the surprises prepared for this important and historic event in the MotoGP World Championship. Emotional days are ahead, and among them, Saturday, April 26, will surely stand out when Carlos Checa takes the honor lap before the Sprint race, riding the 40th Anniversary bike of the Circuito de Jerez. The World Superbike champion will proudly display the commemorative colors of the Andalusian circuit's four decades in front of the best fans in the world.
For sure, that image of the Spanish rider on a bike "dressed" for such a special occasion will make an impact, as it marks the 40th Grand Prix held in Jerez, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Circuit, which is also celebrated in 2025. It will be a unique moment. This is how Checa himself predicts it: "For me, Jerez means a lot. I am very proud to be the rider who will take the honor lap with the colors of the 40th Anniversary of the Circuito de Jerez. I want to be part of this celebration, this great recognition, 40 years of racing, strong emotions, unforgettable Grand Prix... I am proud to be the one who carries the colors of this unique event, I really look forward to it. I’ve taken it with great affection. I hope to represent that moment, thank the best fans, who are also the ones who have made this Grand Prix and the Circuito de Jerez so great."
Although the aesthetic details won't be revealed until the moment before the Sprint race on Saturday, the 26th, we can reveal that Carlos Checa will perform his honorary lap on a Ducati Panigale V4 S, using the colors of the Circuito de Jerez in his usual gear: both in his Alpinestars leather suit, as well as in his Nolan helmet and the 40th Anniversary flag. Before starting this important mission, the Spanish rider opens up: "I'm going to take it quite calmly, as that's what it calls for... It's 40 years. I've been in Jerez since 1990 until I retired in 2013. I've raced here in 125cc, 250cc, 500cc, MotoGP, and Superbike. It's always been one of the great stages, a reference. I was amazed when I first entered the Circuito de Jerez. It was 1990, I was 18 years old, and I drove a van from Barcelona, so my feeling when I entered was like that of a gladiator walking into a Coliseum. It was a different dimension. Since then, I’ve had great moments in Jerez, I've been on the podium, and I've narrowly missed victory while leading races in 500cc. I remember the great fans a lot, the good moments we've had, and it's to the fans that I will dedicate my honorary lap on the 40th Anniversary bike of the Circuito de Jerez."
Carlos Checa, along with Álex Crivillé, Alberto Puig, Sete Gibernau, Toni Elías, Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Márquez, Maverick Viñales, Alex Rins, Joan Mir, Jorge Martín, and Aleix Espargaró, is one of the 14 unique Spaniards who have won Grand Prix races in the premier class of the MotoGP World Championship. Born in Sant Fruitós de Bages on October 15, 1972, Checa's professional career saw him ride for Honda, Yamaha, and Ducati, sharing the box with riders such as Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, and Loris Capirossi. With a career record of 194 Grand Prix races, Carlos Checa amassed 2 wins, 24 podiums, 3 poles, and 5 fastest laps in the premier class. He then transitioned to the Superbike World Championship in 2008 with the Honda team, where he stayed for two years before being signed by the official Ducati team. With Ducati, Checa achieved third place in 2010 and, most notably, became the first Spanish World Champion in 2011. In this category, he competed in 154 races, securing 24 victories, 49 podiums, 10 poles, and 30 fastest laps. In 2008, he also triumphed alongside Ryuichi Kiyonari in the prestigious 8 Hours of Suzuka endurance race.
Regarding the elements Carlos Checa will use during his honorary lap at the Circuito de Jerez, the veteran Spanish rider, who also works as a commentator for Grand Prix races on television, explains that he will showcase "the bike, suit, and helmet from the brands that have accompanied me throughout my life, the same ones I used to win a World Championship. So everything is going to be even more beautiful." Revealing some details for the honorary lap on Saturday, April 26, Checa says, "This time, the Ducati Panigale V4 S will not be red, but will feature the colors of the Circuito de Jerez. With its 216 hp and 1,103 cc, this Ducati, in its seventh generation, is an evolution of the one I used when I won the Superbike title in 2011. It represents the pinnacle of Italian engineering in sports motorcycles, offering sensations close to a MotoGP bike." As for his helmet, Checa celebrates 30 years with Nolan, so his new Nolan X-804 RS has been adapted to pay tribute to the 40th Anniversary of the Circuito de Jerez. "On the other hand, configuring and designing a racing suit is not easy, especially in this era of competition when there is a lot of work. But Alpinestars has also put in a lot of effort, working directly, quickly, and efficiently, creating a very beautiful and special suit. Like the helmet, it will stay in the Circuito de Jerez Museum after the event."
