Carlos Checa is getting closer to the 2011 WSBK championship title after splitting the honours of the doubleheader presented at the Imola circuit and earning his 12th victory of the season.

In the first race, Jonathan Rea has taken an emotional second victory of the season after a faultless performance despite being pressured by Noriyuki Haga.

Rea hit the front of the field on lap five and led to the finish line, but only after being hunted down and challenged by Haga over the second-half of the race, the Japanese rider showing glimpses of his best as he sized up a maiden PATA Aprilia win.

However, while Haga was arguably faster, Rea would spurn his attentions, the Castrol Honda man holding on for a well-deserved win that comes after months of injury rehabilitation.

Despite missing out on the win, second place still marks Haga's best finish of the season and maintains a good run of recent form for the WSBK legend.

Carlos Checa ended up third in front of Tom Sykes while Eugene Laverty had a quiet run to fifth.

In the second event, things were looking good for Rea as he looked to be on course for a second win only to see his faith sealed by technical issues with only four laps to go allowing Checa to win and moved to within three points of the 2011 World Superbike Championship title.

Checa had snatched second place from Noriyuki Haga moments before Rea began slowing.

Haga completed his third podium in four races and this weekend’s two second place finishes mark his best combined results on the PATA Aprilia.

More than ten seconds further back, Leon Camier completed a surprise podium finish in third followed by Eugene Laverty, who is now just 25 points behind the absent Max Biaggi in the fight for third in the standings.

Leon Haslam completed his day with a solid run to fifth position, consolidating the same position in the overall standings.

<sup>WSBK Imola Race 1 – Results
Pos. Rider Team/Bike Gap
1. Jonathan Rea Castrol Honda CBR1000RR 38mins 03.396
2. Noriyuki Haga PATA Aprilia RSV-4 +0.111s
3. Carlos Checa Althea Ducati 1098R +9.449s
4. Tom Sykes Kawasaki RTS ZX-10R +9.792s
5. Eugene Laverty Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +14.699s
6. Sylvain Guintoli Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R +16.820s
7. Jakub Smrz Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R +24.227s
8. Marco Melandri Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +24.935s
9. Ayrton Badovini BMW Italia S1000RR +25.224s
10. Joan Lascorz Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +25.487s

WSBK Imola Race 2 – Results
Pos. Rider Team/Bike Gap
1. Carlos Checa Althea Ducati 1098R 38mins 04.538secs
2. Noriyuki Haga PATA Aprilia RSV-4 +4.631s
3. Leon Camier Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +15.159s
4. Eugene Laverty Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +17.195s
5. Leon Haslam BMW Motorrad S1000RR +17.388s
6. Marco Melandri Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +28.533s
7. Sylvain Guintoli Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R +19.615s
8. Joan Lascorz Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +20.063s
9. Mark Aitchison Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +24.194s
10. Ayrton Badovini BMW Italia S1000RR +28.485s</sup>