Motorcycling: Biaggi win closes the gap on Checa

(AFP/GETTY)

Carlos Checa saw his lead cut to 30 points in the Superbike World Championship despite twice finishing on the podium at Brno in the Czech Republic yesterday.

The Althea Ducati rider leads the standings with 293 points from defending champion Max Biaggi, who is on 263 after sharing race wins with fellow Italian Marco Melandri.

Melandri took his third victory of the season in race one on the Yamaha as he edged out the Alitalia Aprilia of Biaggi and Checa. Biaggi reversed the positions in the second race as he won ahead of Melandri and Checa.

Melandri took his third win of the season in race one as he led home his main title rivals. The Yamaha rider had a narrow advantage at the checkered flag as the top three were covered by only 0.436 seconds after a 20-lap race in hot conditions.

Michel Fabrizio looked capable of catching the top three at one point but eventually the Suzuki Alstare rider dropped back to take a safe fourth place.