Checa's future a question mark

After the surprise of Honda Pons leaving the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (MotoGP) for 2006 season, the Spaniard Carlos Checa, the only rider confirmed by the team for the new season, made a comment on his personal situation that finds him almost off the grid for next season. "This situation has left me out of the game", he said.

"Whilst thinking about the first test of the year in Sepang, I received the unpleasant news that the Honda Pons team, with which I was to race in the upcoming MotoGP season, had withdrawn from competitive activity, as a result of a lack of sponsor," explained Checa. "The timing of this decision at the beginning of the 2006 preseason leaves me in a complicated situation as regards the future, as I find myself without alternatives that would allow me to compete for good results."

Checa had tested for the Honda Pons team in Valencia and Sepang and was looking forward for his 12th season in the highest level of the Continental Circus.

The future doesn`t look good for the 33-year-old rider, who now sees the difficult chance of finding a competitive bike that will allow him to be part of the starting grid in the season opener round, to he held on March 26th in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

"It is paradoxical that after having confided fully in my future, awaiting a season with Honda and a technical team that I know well and in which I had the utmost confidence, that things have turned around completely and left me out of the game. However, it is clear that now is not a moment to complain or look for guilty parties in this regretful situation. I have never done it because it simply isn't my style", Checa stated.

Checa, who has two victories in MotoGP, raced last season with Ducati, taking 9th place in the standings and two times third as best result. The Spaniard has also been in the top ten of the championship final positions since 1996, when he ended in eighth with Honda.

"I am sure that I will not let my guard down against this disappointing situation and give up this positive state of mind, because I am and always have been a fighter," said Checa who is embarking on a new and unexpected fight that has Checa in the front now.