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Carlos Checa reportedly fell at the third lap during the first day of testing in Valencia for the 2006 MotoGP world championship.

Testing with Honda for the first time the Spanish rider crashed on his third lap in Valencia and was rushed off for precautionary chest X-rays at a local hospital.

Checa has now been cleared for action by medics after falling from his Pons run Honda RCV in turn three during the blustery opening day of testing in Spain.

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The former Ducati Marlboro rider has returned to Michelin tyres following a season with Bridgestone and was making his Honda debut in a cold, windy, wet Valencia. Checa has been replaced at Ducati by Sete Gibernau and has not yet been confirmed as a rider for Honda Pons for 2006.

Honda Pons team principal Sito Pons told Crash.net: "Today we have been working with Carlos Checa and Casey Stoner preparing for the new season in 2006. Both riders have shown great potential with the RCV and have adapted to the machine very quickly."

Checa finished the day in fifth place, just behind fourth place Casey Stoner. Nicky Hayden was in first place after the first days racing.