This weekend, the Superbike World Championship gets underway at the Australian Phillip Island circuit. The retirement of reigning champion Max Biaggi promises to make the 2013 season a wide open contest, with no fewer than six manufacturers and a cast of world-class riders in the hunt for glory.
With rounds in Russia, the USA and India on this year’s calendar, the series’ world credentials are stronger than ever. Factory entries from Ducati, Aprilia, BMW, Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki, not to mention an extremely strong field featuring some 11 race-winning riders, further underline the continuing strength of World Superbikes.
Having missed out on last year’s title by a wafer-thin margin of half a point, British rider Tom Sykes has to be among the favourites for this year’s crown. Taking pole position at nine of 14 rounds last season, the Yorkshire rider established himself as one of the championship’s elite riders and will have his sights set on title glory.
Joining Sykes at the Kawasaki team is the 20-year-old Loris Baz, who joined the team last year as a replacement for the injured Joan Lascorz and shocked the establishment with a surprise race win at Silverstone. The evidence so far suggests the young Frenchman could have quite a future ahead of him, so expect more giant-killing this year.
Former MotoGP star Marco Melandri arguably should have taken the title last year, but a succession of spectacular blunders towards the end of the year consigned the flamboyant Italian to third in the standings. With compatriot Biaggi out of the picture, Melandri must fancy his chances of taking the BMW’s team maiden World Superbike title this year.
His teammate will be Chaz Davies, another rider to have taken a win in his debut season last year. The Welsh rider’s victory came in torrential conditions at the Nurburgring, made all the more impressive considering the feat was achieved aboard a privateer Aprilia. Stepping up to the works BMW team, Davies will be looking to build on his success and ascend the top step of the podium more regularly.
Jonathan Rea, who placed fifth in last year’s standings, returns this year for the Honda team. Two wins were the highlight for the Ulsterman in an otherwise difficult 2012 season as Honda struggled to keep pace with some of its rivals. Joining Rea at the team is another Brit, Leon Haslam, who will be looking to bounce back in style after two win-free seasons with BMW.
Rounding out the five-strong British contingent is Leon Camier, who will be hoping that the Suzuki team, with whom he struggled to a solitary podium finish last year, has made sufficient progress to allow the former British Superbike champion to challenge for race wins once again. Joining Camier is former Moto2 rider Jules Cluzel, who is embarking on his debut season in the championship.
Reigning champions Aprilia have signed the experienced Sylvain Guintoli, whose three wins made him the best-placed privateer in last year’s championship, to replace the departing Biaggi. Alongside him will be Ireland’s Eugene Laverty, who will be looking to build on a somewhat subdued sophomore season with the Italian manufacturer after an impressive rookie campaign in 2011.
The sixth and final works team taking to the track will be Ducati, the only manufacturer to field a totally new bike in 2013 – the striking 1199 Panagale R. 2011 champion Carlos Checa’s title challenge faltered last year after a strong start, but the Spaniard must fancy his chances of giving his new mount a winning debut at Phillip Island, where he has dominated in recent years. Ayrton Badovini moves across to partner Checa after two solid seasons aboard privateer BMW machinery.
Max Neukirchner returns to the championship on a privateer Ducati after a largely fruitless spell in Moto2, and could challenge for podiums on occasion. Other privateer riders capable of mixing it with the factory boys include Italian duo Michel Fabrizio and Davide Giugliano, both of whom will be making use of Aprilia machinery.
The Superbike World Championship gets underway at Phillip Island on February 24.
Jamie Klein
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