The double win by Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) in Round 6 of the HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship two weeks ago at Miller Motorsports Park in the USA succeeded in shuffling the cards in the points standings somewhat as the series reaches the mid-point of the season. With Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) failing to score in both races, the Spaniard has now cut the gap to the top man to just 28 points. What seemed a healthy points cushion for the Australian just a couple of races ago, is now not such a large gap after all, proving that anything can happen in the unpredictable world of Superbike racing.

The second new circuit in the space of two weeks is the Nurburgring, which has not hosted a round of the Superbike World Championship since 1999, when the German Round made its second and last visit after the first event in 1998. Four riders in the current world championship line-up have raced Superbike there before - Troy Corser, Noriyuki Haga, Ruben Xaus and Gregorio Lavilla - with the Australian powering to a race 2 win in 1999, while Carlos Checa, Max Biaggi and Rés Laconi have raced in GPs and Max Neukirchner in the German championship. Almost one decade has passed since then and this weekend's Nurburgring race is sure to throw up a few surprises.

It was only a matter of time until Carlos Checa scored his maiden win after joining the series this year as a rookie, and he did it in style at Miller Motorsports Park, taking his first Superpole and two fastest laps as well to crown his perfect weekend. The Spaniard has truly got the bit between his teeth and is now on 166 points against Troy Bayliss's 194. His Australian rival has proved to be capable of some extraordinary feats over the years however and with five wins behind him already this year, will be trying his utmost to re-establish a safe margin over his pursuers.

The round at the Nurburgring is particularly interesting because it will mark the first appearance on German soil this year of the 25-year-old from Stollberg, Max Neukirchner. Since the start of the year Max's performances on the 2007-spec Suzuki GSX-R1000, updated to 2008, have been a revelation, culminating in the first win for a German rider in WSBK at Monza, followed by two second places and a fourth. Third on 144 points, Neukirchner will be anxious to please in front of what are surely to be his numerous home fans.

Carlos Checa spoke about his Miller win plus his thoughts on this weekend's race at the Nurburgring.

Carlos, it took you only six races to break the ice this year.....

For sure, it was important to win at Miller, I haven't won for a long time. It was very special in America because I had only ever won in Spain before, and it was Honda's 100^thwin. I arrived at the right moment and it was not easy at all, we had many things to improve during the season, but now it will be a continuation of me, I'm not different now and I will try and keep my feet on the ground. This is what we wanted, a victory as soon as we can, and we got a victory in America, so now we will try and continue doing the same. We know that there will be difficult tracks like here today because in the rain we have never tested. It won't be easy, but I am sure we can fight for the title.

What have you been up to since your win in the USA?

It's been very busy for me since Miller because of the request from HRC to go to Japan to prepare for the Suzuka 8 Hours with the 300 kms race, where I finished second. I didn't do so much pre-season testing but now it's very intensive! It was interesting because I want to help Honda and for me as well. They wanted to do the 300 kms race as practice and I was with Kiyonari, we are different riders and we need to know what is the best combination for both. Now I will do one more test there and then the race in July.

What experience of the Nurburgring do you have?

I raced here a long time ago in 500s in 1997, for me it is one of the best tracks in Europe, the best track in Germany and I am really happy to come back here. The weather is not the best in this area, but the track is very interesting and enjoyable for big bikes like the Superbikes we use.

Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki) is also arousing considerable interest in Germany and had to face up to a barrage of media interviews on his first return to the circuit since truly emerging in this year's championship. The first German rider to win a WSBK race could have seen the top of the podium already in the third round at Valencia, but eventually only had to wait a couple more races until Monza to take his maiden win. He spoke to us in the build-up to the German Round.

Are you surprised about the media interest in Germany surrounding you?

For me it's perfect, but also for Suzuki. I've signed my contract for the next two years and I think that when I'm riding up at the front in this period, there will now be a big market in Germany for Superbike.

You must be happy with your season so far...

In January I said to the press that I would be happy in the top 5, but now I am in the top 3, it's even better. Now I think it's possible to win the world title, but so far I've done my best. If I finish in top 5 this year, I'm happy, but for next year I will concentrate on winning the title.

Is it possible to win here this year?

The last time I raced here was in 2002 in a German championship race on the short track, I've only been on the long track once. It's nice here but not easy, also for the rain, and for the race set-up. For the Suzuki we need a lot of time to find the race set-up.

And what sort of spec does your Suzuki have?

My Suzuki is the bike from last year but inside it's all new with 2008 parts and I think it's much faster than last year's bike. I must say I'm surprised to be the top Suzuki rider this year but I'm happy.

Fourth place in the championship belongs to Fonsi Nieti (Suzuki Alstare) on 126 points, just four ahead of Japan's Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB). Haga raced with a multiple fractured right collarbone in the USA, and had an operation to help heal the break on the Monday after the race, so even though he won't be at 100%, it won't stop him from attempting to score more top 6 finishes, like he did at Miller. His Yamaha Motor Italia WSB team-mate, Troy Corser is one point behind on 121, and the Australian demonstrated a resurgence of form at the last round with the runner-up slot in race 1 before crashing out of the second race.

Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) surprisingly could only score 2 points at Millar, the Spaniard also suffering a crash and his seventh place is now coming under threat from Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), who twice finished on the podium with two aggressive recoveries from lowly positions after starting from the front row.

Ninth-placed Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) also showed what he is capable of with a fourth place finish in Miller race 2, the Italian now recovering fully from his Monza finger injury, while two Japanese riders, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki Alstare) are ahead of the first true privateer in the series, Gregorio Lavilla (VentAxia VK Honda) in twelfth place.

Makoto Tamada and Regis Laconi, in a lowly 17th and 18th place respectively, are still finding the going difficult on their PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki machines, although the Frenchman was an easy row 2 qualifier in the USA before crashing out of race 1.

Related: