Team Alstare Suzuki rider Michel Fabrizio bounced back from a heavy fall in the first race of today's Misano World Superbike round to take a fighting-sixth in the second race - despite riding with a suspected broken scaphoid bone in his wrist.

Fabrizio had pushed a little too hard on the opening lap of the first race and was high-sided exiting turn three, landing heavily on his right arm. He went to the Medical Centre and was diagnosed with a suspected fracture, but he started race two in determined fashion and was carving his way up through the field from the third row of the grid when the race was red-flagged after 11 laps.

Race two then became a 14-lapper and Fabrizio charged his way up through the field on his way to a fighting sixth place.

Series leader Carlos Checa (Ducati) consolidated his hold on the Championship with another double victory - his third of the season. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) was runner-up in both races with Marco Melandri (Yamaha) third in race one and Noriyuki Haga (Aprilia) third in race two.


Michel Fabrizio - Race 1: DNF (1 lap), Race 2: 6th:

"Actually I feel a bit disappointed this weekend - and not because of my injury really. The wet weather ruined my Superpole and any chances of a good grid position. I had been third in regular qualifying and then 13th in Superpole and that meant I was way down the grid and needed binoculars to see the lights!

"In race one, I charged off the line as hard as I could because I didn't want the leaders to open a big gap straight away, but I pushed a bit too hard and high-sided in turn three, hurting my right arm in the process. I went to the Clinica Mobile and was told that I had probably broken my right scaphoid, but that it would take a day or two to confirm it. I thought that I might as well try and start race two and that's what I did. I fought my way up and passed quite a few riders and was in about seventh place, I think, when the race was stopped.

"Race two then became a 14-lap race and although I tried my best, I just didn't have the strength to keep the throttle at full gas when I wanted to. I lost out a lot on acceleration as a result and that's what prevented me from progressing further up the field - that and the fact that I ran out of laps. I would have preferred a straight 24-lap race because that would've given me time to do lots of overtaking.

"Without the injury I think I could've mounted a podium challenge - even with my grid position. But really, yesterday's rain ruined everything and today's crash in race one didn't help. I will go and see a specialist on Tuesday and further X-rays will be taken. For me, it doesn't really matter if I have broken my scaphoid or not, because I will be racing at Aragon next weekend for sure. If I have to have some sort of protective cast on my arm to race, then that's what I'll do. But one thing is for sure: I will be on track again next weekend."

Results:

Race 1:
1 Checa (ESP-Ducati), 2 Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia), 3 Melandri (ITA-Yamaha), 4 Sykes (GBR-Kawasaki), 5 Laverty (IRL-Yamaha), 6 Camier (GBR-Aprilia), 7 Guintoli (FRA-Ducati), 8 Badovini (ITA-BMW), 9 Lascorz (ESP-Kawasaki), 10 Berger (FRA-Ducati). Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Alstare Suzuki) DNF.

Race 2:
1 Checa (ESP-Ducati), 2 Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia), 3 Haga (JPN-Aprilia), 4 Badovini (ITA-BMW), 5 Haslam (GBR-BMW), 6 Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Alstare Suzuki), 7 Guintoli (FRA-Ducati), 8 Xaus (ESP-Honda), 9 Lascorz (ESP-Kawasaki), 10 Vermeulen (AUS-Kawasaki).

Championship Points:
1 Checa 245, 2 Biaggi 173, 3 Melandri 150, 4 Laverty 123, 5 Haslam 106, 6 Camier 101, 7 Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Alstare Suzuki) 95, 8 Rea 94, 9 Smrz 83, 10 Guintoli and Badovini 72.