Rather amusing to see the huge, faceless Japanese corporations' inline 4's and BMW's much vaunted S 1000RR get buttf**ked by Bologna's dated but sweet-handling 1198 twin. Just goes to show horsepower isn't everything. And good to see 3 European manufacturers in the top 4.

Just don't mention MotoGP!

From DucatiThailand

With victory in Race 1 of the French round of the World Superbike Championship at Magny-Cours, Carlos Checa celebrated his first World Championship title and brought Ducati's list of Riders' titles to an incredible 14. Completing the historic day for Ducati, the Italian brand also secured their 17th Manufacturers' World Superbike Championship in addition to the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup Rider's and Manufacturers' titles.

Spaniard, Carlos Checa, secured his title aboard the Team Althea Racing Ducati 1198 at the penultimate round of the 2011 World Superbike season, his convincing and championship-winning victory in Race 1 being followed by an equally spectacular win in Race 2. His world-beating form this year has produced 6 pole positions, 14 race wins and 20 podium places and he now moves on to the final race of the year in Portimao, Portugal on 16 October with 107 points advantage in the standings and the title won.

Meanwhile, in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, talented 22-year-old Italian rider, Davide Giugliano, rode to an safe 5th to clinch his title. The promising rider took his Team Althea Racing Ducati 1198 to a total of 4 race wins in 2011, fighting a close race to the title with today's race winner, Danilo Petrucci, also competing onboard a Ducati 1198. Ducati's victory in the highly competitive category further highlights the Italian manufacturer's no-compromise approach to its road-going Superbike models and underlines the value of the torque-rich L-Twin configuration that Ducati have remained loyal to.

Having written his name into the history of World Superbike, Checa also reconfirms the competiveness of the L-Twin Ducati 1198 by taking the model to World Superbike title number 2. The victory enables the Borgo Panigale-based factory in Bologna to celebrate their 17th Manufacturers' title, underlining the continued passion they have for the production-based World Superbike series.

Starting Sunday's race from the front of the grid, Carlos Checa needed only to extend his championship lead by 3 points to mathematically secure the title, but soon controlled the race from the front, took the win by 2.2 seconds and won his World Championship in style. With the pressure off for Race 2, Checa maintained his cool, staying with leaders in the early part of the race before stretching a 1.2 second lead and winning the double.

"I'm so happy to win my first world title and so happy that I did it aboard a Ducati," said Carlos Checa as the newly crowned 2011 World Superbike Champion. "My sincere thanks go to Team Althea Racing and everyone at Ducati who has worked hard to help me get these results. Together we've done a great job this year, immediately starting the season well against fast riders on very competitive bikes. From mid-season we started to think about the title, but when the pressure increased we never lost our concentration and now we're here. It's a great feeling! We're still looking forward, though, and now we're concentrating on a big finish to the season at the final race in Portimao."

SBK - Results: Race 1

1. Carlos Checa (Ducati) 2. Melandri (Yamaha) 3. Haslam (BMW) 4. Camier (Aprilia) 5. Laverty (Yamaha)

6. Guintoli (Ducati) 7. Haga (Aprilia) 8. Lascorz (Kawasaki) 9.Corser (BMW) 10.Sykes (Kawasaki).

SBK - Results: Race 2

1. Carlos Checa (Ducati) 2. Melandri (Yamaha) 3. Laverty (Yamaha) 4. Haslam (BMW) 5. Guintoli (Ducati)

6. Camier (Aprilia) 7. Lascorz (Kawasaki) 8. Badovini (BMW) 9.Corser (BMW) 10.Haga (Aprilia).

SBK Standings: Riders'

1. Carlos Checa (467)

2. Melandri (360)

3. Laverty (283)

4. Biaggi (281)

5. Haslam (216)

6. Camier (194)

7. Guintoli (179)

8. Haga (170)

9.Badovini (155)

10.Fabrizio (145).

SBK - Standings: Manufacturers'

1. Ducati (491)

2. Yamaha (415)

3. Aprilia (399)

4. BMW (261)

5. Kawasaki (209)

6. Honda (162)

7. Suzuki (162)

STK Standings: Riders'

1. Giugliano (171)

2. Petrucci (144)

3. Zanetti (137)

4. Barrier (112)

5. Canepa (109)

6. Baroni (70)

7. Antonelli (67)

8. Reiterberger (64)

9. Massei (61)

10. Morais (49)

STK - Satndings: Manufacturers'

1. Ducati (215)

2. BMW (173)

3. Kawasaki (83)

4. Honda (75)

5. Yamaha (16)

Not Thai related; moved to sport.

Be interesting to see how Ducati goes with WSBK in 1199 trim