Checa's special delivery

Spaniard Carlos Checa believes Honda’s new RC212V 800cc is getting competitive at the right time with just two more tests before the 2007 MotoGP world championship gets underway next month.

The LCR Honda rider was vastly improved on his last outing in Australia, beating world champion Nicky Hayden on race tyre times, and he said electronic improvements to help tame the new machines power delivery had helped.

“Sure it can be improved but we made some steps in Phillip Island with the mapping and electronics and the engine braking was better. When you make a new bike engine braking, power delivery and the chassis can all improve. The electronics now are very complicated, difficult to work out the differences each setting makes but now I’m comfortable. We still need to make it better but now it is acceptable.”