WSBK 2009

The new World Superbike Season promises to become an extremely competitive one. There are lots of changes. Most of these changes are centred on the concept of ‘more’. More teams, more riders and more manufacturers. The only significant loss came with the departure of Superbike legend Troy Bayliss. With a world title and a double victory at the last race of the season in Portugal, his farewell was an extremely worthy one. It is also an opportunity for the competition to strike in the coming season.

The first main competitor is Bayliss’ replacement in the Xerox Ducati team. Yes, it is that darling of the sport and public favourite, Noriyuki Haga. The mighty Japan warrior is not a stranger to the Ducati and with the young Italian Fabrizio, prolonging his engagement with Ducati, at his side they must be the prime force to be reckoned with this year.
It stands to reason that Roman emperor Max Biaggi was not very pleased with this business of affairs, as he had hoped for a promotion from the Sterilgarda Ducati team to the factory team. Luckily for him, the Italian Aprilia team was very anxious to hire him. That team is rounded out with none other than former Moto GP rider Shinya Nakano.

Biaggi’s former teammate at Sterilgarda, Ruben Xaus, chose an altogether different path and enrolled with the new German BMW team. With is partner, the extremely experienced Troy Corser, twice world champion and runner-up in the 2008 season, he will endeavour to develop the slim BMW and make it competitive. These two new teams bring the total number of competing manufacturers up to seven, while MV Agusta and KTM will compete on an ad hoc basis prior to the 2010 season which they desire to enter fully.

The Japanese manufacturers see their amount of changes as well. The Yamaha Italia team sees a totally new line-up with Ben Spies and Tom Sykes. The extremely talented German rider Max Neukirchner becomes the main rider at Alstare Suzuki, assisted by Kamikaze rider Yukio Kagayama. The Kawasaki effort is handled by Paul Bird and will feature Mako Tamada and the sympathetic Australian Supersport talent Broc Parkes. Whether Kawasaki will become a contender in 2009 remains doubtful but there can be little doubt that the Honda Ten Kate team will be competitive this season.
Carlos Checa fell back a little after his very good season opening last year, but he is on point now and has made it clear that he is determined to become champion this year. The well-oiled Dutch team also boasts the spectacular steering of Ryuichi Kiyonari and we cannot expect less that spectacle from top talent Jonathan Rae. A veteran of British Superbike and a surprising rookie in the World Supersport class last year, where he finished second.

Also expect some successes from BSB champion Shane Byne on the Sterilgarda Ducati and Leon Haslam on the Stiggy motorsport Honda. In total there will be 30 riders competing in 28 races during 14 race weekends. With the South African track of Kyalami back on the roster and the lush new circuit at Portimao this championship looks to be a truly world encompassing challenge, with only an Asian event lacking.
The Swiss firm of Infront Sports Media has gained enormous influence in the person of Philipe Blatter and has great plans for this class. Its competitive spirit shows in the overlapping of the SBK and MotoGP calendars on no fewer than seven counts. Motorcycle fans will not be exactly overjoyed with that fact but they are exactly the persons who have the most to gain in the Superbike class, with its accessible paddock, paddock shows and pit walks. We will all be able, once again, to see it, up close and in person, at Assen on the 24th, 25th and 26th of April, in the fourth round.

The World Supersport class sees the welcome return of former champion Kenan Sofuoglu. As an appetizer, he won the last race of 2008 in Portugal and is seen as the main title candidate by, for instance, Barry Veneman. With the reigning champion Andrew Pitt at his side, it looks like the Ten Kate team will continue to dominate this class in 2009.

Barry Veneman has made enormous strides forward with the Hoegee Suzuki in the Supersport championship and if he can pick up where he left off last season, we’ll be seeing lots more of “Bazza” on the podium in this one. For a time, it looked like he would be reinforced by five times Dutch champion Arie Vos as his teammate, but that deal fell through. Vos will however be a permanent fixture this season, as he will be competing for the Finnish/Dutch Veidec Honda team, together with the great Dane Robbin Harms and Jesco Günther.

Experienced riders, such as the Frenchman Fabièn Forret, the Italian Gianluca Nannelli and Japan’s Katsuaki Fujiwara will also be showing up in the front line on many occasions. Fujiwara moved to Kawasaki and will be joined there by last year’s revelation, the young Spanish talent Juan Lascorz. Triumph was a bit uneven in 2008, with McCoy, Clementi and Aitchison but their beautiful three-cylinders will once again grace the grid this year.

Overloaded grids, competing and recognizable motorcycles and riders will continue to be the mainstay of the Supersport class. Close racing will be the result and who would not like to see that?

For information about the WSBK 2010, visit the official WSBK website.