AUSTRALIA'S Michael Doohan took his third consecutive 500cc World Championship after finishing second behind local man Carlos Checa in the Grand Prix of Catalonia yesterday.
"It's unbelievable. At the beginning of the year I just didn't think this was possible," said Doohan.
For Spain's Checa it was the first win of a promising career and some compensation after falling while leading last year's race. He received the race trophy from King Juan Carlos, himself a keen motorcycle enthusiast.
Doohan said Checa's move had helped him. Checa took the lead and that was good - it took the pressure off, meaning I could finish lower down.
Doohan, who only needed to finish second to win the title, fulfilled his pre-race promise of sticking to Alex Criville, the only rider who could catch the Australian in the overall standings.
Italy's Luca Cadalora was first off the grid but was unable to contain Checa who took the lead on the third lap and never looked back. Behind him Criville and Doohan were involved in a battle that saw the rival Honda men exchange places nine times.
