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02-15-2007, 12:23 PM
WSB: 2007 Season Preview http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/graphics/mcusa_printer_icon_sm.gif (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=1#)
2/14/2007
By Bart Madson (bmadson@motorcycle-usa.com)
As Spring emerges from a slumbering winter, avid road-racing fans can start penciling in some serious couch time on Sundays because the 2007 season is almost upon us. The 2007 World Superbike Championship gets underway February 24th at the Qatar circuit, where 2006 champion, Troy Bayliss, will begin a defense of his title against a stacked field of ambitious competitors.
With a clean slate for '07, it's time for a WSB overview to highlight the plots and sub-plots we can expect in the upcoming season. The intent is to whip up MCUSA faithful into a racing frenzy and also provide newcomers to the sport with enough background so they can follow along and join in the excitement as well.
For those unfamiliar, the WSB championship is a production-based racing series, which differentiates itself from the well-known MotoGP championship, which is prototype based. Production-based means that the bikes utilized by WSB racers are sourced from the same superbike machinery any schmoe can ride off the lot at his or her local dealership (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=1#). There are major modifications made to the stock machines, however, which include high-performance component upgrades, like suspension and brakes, along with liberal use of light-weight carbon fiber bodywork.
Specification limits between WSB and MotoGP (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=1#) differ as well, with WSB machines bound by a heavier minimum weight restriction. The WSB series also varies from MotoGP, and most road-racing series, in that all participants utilize the same tires, which are supplied by Pirelli.
In spite of the different spec limitations, the actual performance variance between WSB and MotoGP machines are very close. For a well-written examination of the competition and rivalry between MotoGP and WSB machinery, and the series themselves, check out the informative Collision Course: MotoGP and WSB (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4236&Page=1) article from SPEEDTV.com's Dennis Noyes.
WSB has been closing the gap on MotoGP not just in laptimes, however, as it has been regaining popularity and prestige as well - although the general opinion amongst the racing community is that MotoGP remains the more prestigious of the two.
One of the big questions heading into the 2007 season, aside from the obvious performances out on the track, will be whether the series changes the current specification and allows an increase in displacement for Twins. An issue which segues with our first manufacturer profile, the reigning constructors champion and potential beneficiary of the possible changes, Ducati.
Ducati is a powerhouse in the WSB series, with several of its riders having claimed the title, including last year's champion, Troy Bayliss. In 2007 Ducati will continue to race the 999 superbike, even though the Italian marque unleashed the much-anticipated 1098S this past year as a 2007 model. As the lone manufacturer in the series to utilize a two-cylinder powerplant, Ducati is allowed special exceptions in engine modification to compensate for the performance disadvantages of the Twin powerplant compared to its Inline-Four rivals.
The FIM (Federation International Motorcyclisme), the sanctioning body of WSB, has taken the first step towards allowing a displacement advantage for Twins by homologating the new 1098S for Superstock (basically the Superbike class with far fewer allowances for modification, thus the "stock" in the class name). Ducati is lobbying for an even higher 1200cc displacement ceiling for Twins, with another European manufacturer, Austria's KTM, rumored to be more inclined to enter future WSB competition with Twin-powered machines.
There is a precedent to the Twin displacement advantage, with the series at one time featuring 1000cc Twins against 750cc Inline-Fours. The bigger question is whether a new displacement advantage is fair given the 2006 domination by Bayliss. How fair is fair? How far should the FIM go to appease Ducati when it is still finding great success? It's easy to sympathize with the Japanese Inline-Fours. After all, is it really their fault they make a more potent and efficient engine? All questions worth watching as the 2007 season unfolds and the leading candidate begins his title defense.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/Web/17850bayliss.jpg (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/17850bayliss.jpg)
Troy Bayliss - Ducati Xerox - Australian - 2006 World Superbike Champion:
Heading into the season as the reigning champ, Bayliss is the top contender for 2007. A two-time WSB champion, the Australian rider took an unsuccessful stint in the MotoGP (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=2#) series before returning to WSB last season. He made quick work of the title last year, stomping the competition and taking the points lead from the first round in Qatar.
With the WSB championship already claimed, Ducati offered Bayliss the vacated MotoGP seat of injured rider Sete Gibernau for the final round of the MotoGP championship at Valencia. Bayliss made the most of his opportunity motoring on to a dominating flag-to-flag victory. The WSB champion bested the premier MotoGP field during its own season finale, a feat that doesn't figure to be repeated anytime soon. It was a bold testament to the quality of talent which packs the WSB ranks.
In the upcoming season, Bayliss will be the clear favorite but figures to face concerted efforts from a number of challengers - one of the foremost among them being fellow Australian Troy Corser. Much was made of the Corser/Bayliss faceoff in 2006, which the media dubbed the WSB Trojan War (or at least we did anyway). At this point last season, Corser was the reigning champion and Bayliss the one-time champion, but at the beginning of 2007 the roles have been reversed.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/Web/89751lanzi.jpg (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/89751lanzi.jpg)
Lorenzo Lanzi - Ducati Xerox - Italian - 8th WSB:
Lanzi has much to prove in 2007. For starters, he has the scrutiny of competing with the mastery of Bayliss. Many high-profile names, including MotoGP star Alex Barros and former WSB champion Neil Hodgson, were linked to the second seat on the factory Ducati team during the off-season, but somehow Lanzi retained the position in spite of a lackluster 8th-place in the championship (lackluster compared to Bayliss at least).
A cynical person might deduce that Ducati's decision to keep Lanzi on was based in large part on his Italian nationality and shared hometown of Bologna with the Ducati factory. A really cynical, bordering on paranoid, person might say it is because Lanzi's mediocrity may be the best argument Ducati has for its bid to increase displacement. But perhaps there is no subterfuge involved at all, and the easy explanation is the Italian manufacturer sees a lot of promise in Lanzi's abilities. He showed flashes of potential in 2006, but they were overshadowed by DNFs. Regardless of the reasoning, Lanzi will be under the microscope in '07.
Ruben Xaus - Sterilgarda Ducati - Spanish - 14th WSB:
Last season there were a number of privateer Ducatis stuffed into the WSB paddock, but for this season there are only two. The most impressive Duc-powered privateer from '06 was Ruben Xaus, who returns for 2007 with the same Sterilgarda team. In 2006 the Spaniard was able to nab some solid top-10 finishes on his way to 14th overall in the championship. The unpredictable Xaus is a volatile racer who is prone to great speeds (often setting the fastest trap speed) but also prone to great crashes as well. If the former championship runner-up can find a way to a podium or two, and maybe a top-10 in the championship, perhaps a better opportunity will open up when 2008 rolls around.
Dean Ellison - Pedercini Ducati - Great Britain - BSB:
A rookie for 2007, Dean Ellison is the brother of former MotoGP rider James Ellison. Campaigning '07 for Team Pedercini, Ellison brings racing experience - including seasons on the Ducati - from the British Superbike Championship. He will complete the contingent of British riders in WSB, along with Hannspree Honda's (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=2#) James Toseland. Team Pedercini also retains a second TBA placement on the 2007 permanent entry list, so another rider may join Ellison before the season ends.
Yamaha
Unlike Ducati, Yamaha (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=3#) will campaign 2007 on a redesigned racebike, the new YZF-R1. Yamaha's R1 proved to be one of the strongest '06 contenders under the control of Japanese veteran, Noriyuki Haga, who finished third overall in the championship. The consensus opinion on the new R1 is that it traded a little bit of form for function, with internal changes including a switch from five to four-valve-per-cylinder design and an all-new chassis. With a new machine at his command, Haga figures to be a contender yet again, as will his new teammate, Troy Corser.
While the performance of the R1 will be scrutinized, a bigger question may be if Corser and Haga get along? As two of the most senior riders on the circuit, the veteran racers figure to act like true professionals, but they have a history of rubbing each other the wrong way in the past.
Noriyuki Haga - Yamaha Motor Italia - Japan - 3rd WSB:
Haga begins his 11th season in Superbike after one of his best campaigns ever, a third-place overall in 2006. Last season Haga scored 11 podiums but only managed one win. His season also started on a horrible note at Qatar when he crashed out with his fellow countryman and good friend, Yukio Kagayama, while the two were fighting for the win during the final lap. At 31, Nitro Nori still has a lot of racing in him and 2007 just might be his year. If so, the Yamaha ace will have to not just seize the rostrum on a consistent basis, but also find a way to add to his 20 career WSB wins.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/Web/67106Corser.jpg (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/67106Corser.jpg)
Troy Corser - Yamaha Motor Italia - Australia - 4th WSB:
Breathing down Haga's neck in the paddock will be 2005 WSB champion, Troy Corser. The 37-year-old Australian is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2006, which saw him lose the number-1 plate to his rival Troy Bayliss. In fact, 2006 didn't just see Corser lose his title, he suffered a whole string of bad luck, which included multiple crashes and a bout of the chickenpox.
Barring an unforeseen worldwide disaster, Corser can forget about a pox falling upon his household and get back to the business of reclaiming his title. To start off on a clean slate, Corser ditched Suzuki in the off-season for Yamaha. If he can return to his 2005 form, Bayliss will have a run for his money in the title hunt.
Shinichi Nakatomi - Team Yamaha YZF - Japan - 17th WSB:
A 27-year-old racer from Japan, Nakatomi is the lone rider for the Team Yamaha YZF - formerly known as Yamaha Motor France Ipone. Gone is long-time WSB and MotoGP competitor Norick Abe, although like Ducati's Team Pedercini, the Yamaha satellite squad still retains a TBA position on the permanent entry list.
Suzuki
Like Yamaha, Suzuki has a couple of questions heading into 2007, in the form of a new machine and rider lineup. Suzuki's '07 GSX-R1000 features a revamped engine and a new aluminum twin-spar frame, but whether those changes will make much difference on the modified WSB racing equipment remains to be seen.
Also unproven is half of the Alstare Corona lineup, with new addition, Max Biaggi, joining Japanese veteran Yukio Kagayama. If the lingering question for Yamaha is whether its star teammates will get along with each other, the question at Suzuki is whether Max Biaggi will get along with anyone?
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/Web/maxatlosail.jpg (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/maxatlosail.jpg)
Max Biaggi - Alstare Corona Suzuki Extra - Italy - Did Not Race in 2006:
Say what you will about him, Mad Max brings some intrigue into the WSB paddock with the Italian rider getting blackballed out of MotoGP after many seasons as Valentino Rossi's rival. Sitting out a year during his Honda-imposed exile, Biaggi was the continual source of rumors in 2006. When it was reported that he had signed on as Troy Corser's replacement for the factory Suzuki team, we reported it, but having seen Biaggi's name floated around all during '06, we had to see it to believe it.
Biaggi has been solid, although not breathtaking, during the preseason tests. The critics are wondering how long it will be until Max flies his true colors and starts complaining about his team and bike if top results aren't forthcoming. So far, Max has been on his best behavior while shaking out the kinks of a year outside of racing. A stint in WSB may be just what Biaggi needs to get winning back into his system. As Alex Barros is a prime example from last season, a MotoGP castoff can catch his breath in WSB before returning back and get some good results in the process.
Yukio Kagayama - Alstare Corona Suzuki Extra - Japan - 7th WSB:
Although the popularity of Biaggi has generated the most attention in the Suzuki camp, Yukio Kagayama is the more established rider and may be the marque's best hope for a title. For the most part it seemed like '06 was a downer for Kagayama, but then at Brno the Japanese rider pulled off an unexpected double victory. Go figure.
A manic stat line for 2006 saw Kagayama earn five podiums and three wins. In a way, he was the counterpoint to his friend Haga, lacking the consistency, but able to win more often. If Kagayama can find a way to nix the dreaded DNF and become a more consistent podium presence, he should be a top-five finisher, or better, in the championship.
Max Neukirchner - Suzuki Germany - Germany - 18th WSB:
Neukirchner had a topsy-turvy 2006. After not being picked up by his 2005 employer, Klaffi Honda (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=3#), the German rider took up with the Pedercini Ducati squad before replacing Fabien Foret on the Alstare Engineering bike midseason. Racing for the Suzuki Germany team in 2007, Neukirchner has a single career podium to his credit, along with a whole lot of crashes. He will be trying to prove his mettle with respectable finishes in the upcoming season. The key word in that sentence being "finishes." as Nuke has been a frequent collector of the DNF.
Honda
The big news coming out of the Honda (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=4#) camp for 2006 is the absence of the Klaffi team, as well as the pull-out of Winston as the sponsor for the front-running Ten Kate squad. The LCD monitor-making company Hannspree has stepped up to sponsor the premier Ten Kate team, which features James Toseland - the manufacturer's best shot at a title. (Hanspree is also sponsoring the Gresini Honda MotoGP team as well.) Honda will also have two satellite efforts on the grid, the Alto Evolution team - which features former Ten Kate rider Karl Muggeridge- and the D.F.X. Treme squad.
James Toseland - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda - Great Britain - 2nd WSB:</B>
Based on past performance, Toseland has to be considered one of, if not the, top pretender to Bayliss' crown. For starters the British rider was the 2004 WSB champion, and during the last four seasons he has never finished outside of the top-5 overall, including second-place in the championship last season. This year will be Toseland's second for the Ten Kate team, having been passed aside by Ducati after 2005 when the Italian marque opted to go with Bayliss. You can't argue with Ducati's reasoning given the results, but Toseland has a lot of incentive to spoil his former employer's plans by taking the 2007 title. The good news is Toseland was able to beat Haga in a down-to-the-wire race for second overall in '06. The bad news is he was still 95 points behind Bayliss.
Roberto Rolfo - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda - Italy - 16th WSB:
Roberto Rolfo moves up to an established team after a 16th-place 2006 campaign with Caracchi Ducati. A former 250 MotoGP (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=4#) rider - finishing 2nd in the series in 2003 - the Italian's career stalled in the premier MotoGP class before transferring into WSB. Rolfo should benefit from riding for one of the more successful teams in the WSB paddock.
Karl Muggeridge - Alto Evolution Honda - Australia - 12th WSB:
The 2004 World Supersport champion, Muggeridge's career has not met with the same success in the WSB series. Muggas lost his coveted Ten Kate seat after a dismal 2006 campaign. The Aussie was demoted to satellite status with the new Alto Evolution team, where he will ride alongside fellow Australian Joshua Brookes. Although he may not have the same level of support from the garage, it would be difficult for Muggeridge to do worse than '06, which saw multiple DNFs and included a broken back from a testing crash at Valencia. A solid top-10 overall finish would be a positive step forward.
Steve Martin - D.F.X. Treme Honda - Australian - 21st WSB:
Looking at Steve Martin's results from 2006 and it's easy to overlook the veteran rider. Yet, the Australian put in a valiant campaign for the ill-fated Foggy Petronas team to finish 21st overall. Along the way, he suffered a serious crash, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise when a fractured kidney, upon closer examination, revealed a malignant tumor. Martin recovered from his injuries and the subsequent tumor-removal surgery. Now that he healthy and no longer toiling behind the hapless Petronas Triple, he is betting that extra cylinder on the new Honda CBR (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=4#) will translate into better results.
Michel Fabrizio - D.F.X Treme Honda - Italian - 11th WSB:
Fabrizio had a pretty good rookie season, finishing 11th overall, providing a youthful balance on the 2006 D.F.X. team alongside Frankie Chili. With the popular Chili now retired, Fabrizio is partnered up with another veteran in Martin. During his rookie year in WSB, the former MotoGP backpacker tallied perhaps the most unexpected double-podium of the season at Brno (the same crazy round which saw Kagayama's double victory). We'll have to wait and see if there are more surprises in store for 2007.
Kawasaki
After sporting a three-man team last season, the paddock will seem mighty lonesome for Kawasaki in 2007. Gone is Chris Walker, who returned back to British Superbike with Rizla Suzuki (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=5#), but Regis Laconi and Fonsi Nieto remain with PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse. There will be no satellite teams running the ZX-10R during the upcoming season.
Fonsi Nieto - PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse - Spain - 10th WSB:
Nieto didn't blow anyone away in 2006 with Kawasaki, but he did score a third-place podium finish and was consistent enough to just crack the overall top-10. The Spanish rider enters his third year in the series after success in the 250cc GP class. The question is whether the Kawasakis will progress in the upcoming season. Nieto is already on the record saying he feels the two-rider team seems to be more effective, but the ultimate judgment will be in the results.
Regis Laconi - PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse - France - 15th WSB:
Laconi is looking to get his WSB career back on track for 2007, the French rider having finished as runner-up to the championship in 2004. Out of the three riders making up last year's team, Laconi had the least impressive results, with no podiums - although he did show some promise in qualifying at various points in the season. Staying healthy, he should at least do better than 15th.
MV Agusta
A single-bike team will contest 2007 on the legendary racing marque MV Agusta (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=5#). The LBR Racing Team will prep an F4 1000R for Austrian rider Christian Zaiser. The MV Agusta effort doesn't figure to be a major player in the title chase, but it does add a little bit of spice to the manufacturer mix and will be precursor to a much more varied paddock in the future. That is if rumors are to be believed, with Aprilia, Benelli, and KTM whispered to throw their hats into the ring some day soon.
Who's Missing?
Among the missing names on the official final entry list, a noticeable absence is Carl Fogarty. The former four-time WSB champion, whose dominating personality was present on the grid after his retirement with the Foggy Petronas team, was unable to secure financial sponsorship for a 2007 WSB entry.
There were rumors in the off-season that Fogarty would pair up with Ducati. Then when those leads cooled, MV Agusta was the next marque tapped out as a potential Foggy Racing (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=5#) collaborator. There was even talk of Fogarty hitching up with former Ducati teammate Neil Hodgson as the team's rider.
The improbable partnership was an unholy union which seemed, and proved to be, a longshot at best, as Hodgson had derided such notions during his 2006 stint in AMA SB. In the end, neither of the charismatic personalities will be present in the 2007 championship - a definite loss for the fans.
WSB is also missing the participation of any American riders. It wasn't too long ago that the Texas Tornado, Colin Edwards, was rioting through the WSB ranks and emerged into the MotoGP pool with a pair of WSB titles to his credit. The trend for American riders, as of late, is to stick it out back in the States with the AMA Superbike series, rather than wander into the WSB ranks.
The lack of Americans leads to another absence in the series. Considering its "World" moniker, the title has only two rounds, Qatar and Phillip Island (this first two of the season), that don't take place in Europe. In this regard, MotoGP is a more global enterprise.
All things considered, the above shortcomings are far, far outweighed by WSB's exciting action on the track. With an entire stable of established stars set to face off, 2007 shows a lot of promise as an exciting season of racing. Make sure to stay tuned to MCUSA for all the latest developments.
2/14/2007
By Bart Madson (bmadson@motorcycle-usa.com)
As Spring emerges from a slumbering winter, avid road-racing fans can start penciling in some serious couch time on Sundays because the 2007 season is almost upon us. The 2007 World Superbike Championship gets underway February 24th at the Qatar circuit, where 2006 champion, Troy Bayliss, will begin a defense of his title against a stacked field of ambitious competitors.
With a clean slate for '07, it's time for a WSB overview to highlight the plots and sub-plots we can expect in the upcoming season. The intent is to whip up MCUSA faithful into a racing frenzy and also provide newcomers to the sport with enough background so they can follow along and join in the excitement as well.
For those unfamiliar, the WSB championship is a production-based racing series, which differentiates itself from the well-known MotoGP championship, which is prototype based. Production-based means that the bikes utilized by WSB racers are sourced from the same superbike machinery any schmoe can ride off the lot at his or her local dealership (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=1#). There are major modifications made to the stock machines, however, which include high-performance component upgrades, like suspension and brakes, along with liberal use of light-weight carbon fiber bodywork.
Specification limits between WSB and MotoGP (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=1#) differ as well, with WSB machines bound by a heavier minimum weight restriction. The WSB series also varies from MotoGP, and most road-racing series, in that all participants utilize the same tires, which are supplied by Pirelli.
In spite of the different spec limitations, the actual performance variance between WSB and MotoGP machines are very close. For a well-written examination of the competition and rivalry between MotoGP and WSB machinery, and the series themselves, check out the informative Collision Course: MotoGP and WSB (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4236&Page=1) article from SPEEDTV.com's Dennis Noyes.
WSB has been closing the gap on MotoGP not just in laptimes, however, as it has been regaining popularity and prestige as well - although the general opinion amongst the racing community is that MotoGP remains the more prestigious of the two.
One of the big questions heading into the 2007 season, aside from the obvious performances out on the track, will be whether the series changes the current specification and allows an increase in displacement for Twins. An issue which segues with our first manufacturer profile, the reigning constructors champion and potential beneficiary of the possible changes, Ducati.
Ducati is a powerhouse in the WSB series, with several of its riders having claimed the title, including last year's champion, Troy Bayliss. In 2007 Ducati will continue to race the 999 superbike, even though the Italian marque unleashed the much-anticipated 1098S this past year as a 2007 model. As the lone manufacturer in the series to utilize a two-cylinder powerplant, Ducati is allowed special exceptions in engine modification to compensate for the performance disadvantages of the Twin powerplant compared to its Inline-Four rivals.
The FIM (Federation International Motorcyclisme), the sanctioning body of WSB, has taken the first step towards allowing a displacement advantage for Twins by homologating the new 1098S for Superstock (basically the Superbike class with far fewer allowances for modification, thus the "stock" in the class name). Ducati is lobbying for an even higher 1200cc displacement ceiling for Twins, with another European manufacturer, Austria's KTM, rumored to be more inclined to enter future WSB competition with Twin-powered machines.
There is a precedent to the Twin displacement advantage, with the series at one time featuring 1000cc Twins against 750cc Inline-Fours. The bigger question is whether a new displacement advantage is fair given the 2006 domination by Bayliss. How fair is fair? How far should the FIM go to appease Ducati when it is still finding great success? It's easy to sympathize with the Japanese Inline-Fours. After all, is it really their fault they make a more potent and efficient engine? All questions worth watching as the 2007 season unfolds and the leading candidate begins his title defense.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/Web/17850bayliss.jpg (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/17850bayliss.jpg)
Troy Bayliss - Ducati Xerox - Australian - 2006 World Superbike Champion:
Heading into the season as the reigning champ, Bayliss is the top contender for 2007. A two-time WSB champion, the Australian rider took an unsuccessful stint in the MotoGP (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=2#) series before returning to WSB last season. He made quick work of the title last year, stomping the competition and taking the points lead from the first round in Qatar.
With the WSB championship already claimed, Ducati offered Bayliss the vacated MotoGP seat of injured rider Sete Gibernau for the final round of the MotoGP championship at Valencia. Bayliss made the most of his opportunity motoring on to a dominating flag-to-flag victory. The WSB champion bested the premier MotoGP field during its own season finale, a feat that doesn't figure to be repeated anytime soon. It was a bold testament to the quality of talent which packs the WSB ranks.
In the upcoming season, Bayliss will be the clear favorite but figures to face concerted efforts from a number of challengers - one of the foremost among them being fellow Australian Troy Corser. Much was made of the Corser/Bayliss faceoff in 2006, which the media dubbed the WSB Trojan War (or at least we did anyway). At this point last season, Corser was the reigning champion and Bayliss the one-time champion, but at the beginning of 2007 the roles have been reversed.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/Web/89751lanzi.jpg (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/89751lanzi.jpg)
Lorenzo Lanzi - Ducati Xerox - Italian - 8th WSB:
Lanzi has much to prove in 2007. For starters, he has the scrutiny of competing with the mastery of Bayliss. Many high-profile names, including MotoGP star Alex Barros and former WSB champion Neil Hodgson, were linked to the second seat on the factory Ducati team during the off-season, but somehow Lanzi retained the position in spite of a lackluster 8th-place in the championship (lackluster compared to Bayliss at least).
A cynical person might deduce that Ducati's decision to keep Lanzi on was based in large part on his Italian nationality and shared hometown of Bologna with the Ducati factory. A really cynical, bordering on paranoid, person might say it is because Lanzi's mediocrity may be the best argument Ducati has for its bid to increase displacement. But perhaps there is no subterfuge involved at all, and the easy explanation is the Italian manufacturer sees a lot of promise in Lanzi's abilities. He showed flashes of potential in 2006, but they were overshadowed by DNFs. Regardless of the reasoning, Lanzi will be under the microscope in '07.
Ruben Xaus - Sterilgarda Ducati - Spanish - 14th WSB:
Last season there were a number of privateer Ducatis stuffed into the WSB paddock, but for this season there are only two. The most impressive Duc-powered privateer from '06 was Ruben Xaus, who returns for 2007 with the same Sterilgarda team. In 2006 the Spaniard was able to nab some solid top-10 finishes on his way to 14th overall in the championship. The unpredictable Xaus is a volatile racer who is prone to great speeds (often setting the fastest trap speed) but also prone to great crashes as well. If the former championship runner-up can find a way to a podium or two, and maybe a top-10 in the championship, perhaps a better opportunity will open up when 2008 rolls around.
Dean Ellison - Pedercini Ducati - Great Britain - BSB:
A rookie for 2007, Dean Ellison is the brother of former MotoGP rider James Ellison. Campaigning '07 for Team Pedercini, Ellison brings racing experience - including seasons on the Ducati - from the British Superbike Championship. He will complete the contingent of British riders in WSB, along with Hannspree Honda's (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=2#) James Toseland. Team Pedercini also retains a second TBA placement on the 2007 permanent entry list, so another rider may join Ellison before the season ends.
Yamaha
Unlike Ducati, Yamaha (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=3#) will campaign 2007 on a redesigned racebike, the new YZF-R1. Yamaha's R1 proved to be one of the strongest '06 contenders under the control of Japanese veteran, Noriyuki Haga, who finished third overall in the championship. The consensus opinion on the new R1 is that it traded a little bit of form for function, with internal changes including a switch from five to four-valve-per-cylinder design and an all-new chassis. With a new machine at his command, Haga figures to be a contender yet again, as will his new teammate, Troy Corser.
While the performance of the R1 will be scrutinized, a bigger question may be if Corser and Haga get along? As two of the most senior riders on the circuit, the veteran racers figure to act like true professionals, but they have a history of rubbing each other the wrong way in the past.
Noriyuki Haga - Yamaha Motor Italia - Japan - 3rd WSB:
Haga begins his 11th season in Superbike after one of his best campaigns ever, a third-place overall in 2006. Last season Haga scored 11 podiums but only managed one win. His season also started on a horrible note at Qatar when he crashed out with his fellow countryman and good friend, Yukio Kagayama, while the two were fighting for the win during the final lap. At 31, Nitro Nori still has a lot of racing in him and 2007 just might be his year. If so, the Yamaha ace will have to not just seize the rostrum on a consistent basis, but also find a way to add to his 20 career WSB wins.
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Troy Corser - Yamaha Motor Italia - Australia - 4th WSB:
Breathing down Haga's neck in the paddock will be 2005 WSB champion, Troy Corser. The 37-year-old Australian is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2006, which saw him lose the number-1 plate to his rival Troy Bayliss. In fact, 2006 didn't just see Corser lose his title, he suffered a whole string of bad luck, which included multiple crashes and a bout of the chickenpox.
Barring an unforeseen worldwide disaster, Corser can forget about a pox falling upon his household and get back to the business of reclaiming his title. To start off on a clean slate, Corser ditched Suzuki in the off-season for Yamaha. If he can return to his 2005 form, Bayliss will have a run for his money in the title hunt.
Shinichi Nakatomi - Team Yamaha YZF - Japan - 17th WSB:
A 27-year-old racer from Japan, Nakatomi is the lone rider for the Team Yamaha YZF - formerly known as Yamaha Motor France Ipone. Gone is long-time WSB and MotoGP competitor Norick Abe, although like Ducati's Team Pedercini, the Yamaha satellite squad still retains a TBA position on the permanent entry list.
Suzuki
Like Yamaha, Suzuki has a couple of questions heading into 2007, in the form of a new machine and rider lineup. Suzuki's '07 GSX-R1000 features a revamped engine and a new aluminum twin-spar frame, but whether those changes will make much difference on the modified WSB racing equipment remains to be seen.
Also unproven is half of the Alstare Corona lineup, with new addition, Max Biaggi, joining Japanese veteran Yukio Kagayama. If the lingering question for Yamaha is whether its star teammates will get along with each other, the question at Suzuki is whether Max Biaggi will get along with anyone?
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Max Biaggi - Alstare Corona Suzuki Extra - Italy - Did Not Race in 2006:
Say what you will about him, Mad Max brings some intrigue into the WSB paddock with the Italian rider getting blackballed out of MotoGP after many seasons as Valentino Rossi's rival. Sitting out a year during his Honda-imposed exile, Biaggi was the continual source of rumors in 2006. When it was reported that he had signed on as Troy Corser's replacement for the factory Suzuki team, we reported it, but having seen Biaggi's name floated around all during '06, we had to see it to believe it.
Biaggi has been solid, although not breathtaking, during the preseason tests. The critics are wondering how long it will be until Max flies his true colors and starts complaining about his team and bike if top results aren't forthcoming. So far, Max has been on his best behavior while shaking out the kinks of a year outside of racing. A stint in WSB may be just what Biaggi needs to get winning back into his system. As Alex Barros is a prime example from last season, a MotoGP castoff can catch his breath in WSB before returning back and get some good results in the process.
Yukio Kagayama - Alstare Corona Suzuki Extra - Japan - 7th WSB:
Although the popularity of Biaggi has generated the most attention in the Suzuki camp, Yukio Kagayama is the more established rider and may be the marque's best hope for a title. For the most part it seemed like '06 was a downer for Kagayama, but then at Brno the Japanese rider pulled off an unexpected double victory. Go figure.
A manic stat line for 2006 saw Kagayama earn five podiums and three wins. In a way, he was the counterpoint to his friend Haga, lacking the consistency, but able to win more often. If Kagayama can find a way to nix the dreaded DNF and become a more consistent podium presence, he should be a top-five finisher, or better, in the championship.
Max Neukirchner - Suzuki Germany - Germany - 18th WSB:
Neukirchner had a topsy-turvy 2006. After not being picked up by his 2005 employer, Klaffi Honda (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=3#), the German rider took up with the Pedercini Ducati squad before replacing Fabien Foret on the Alstare Engineering bike midseason. Racing for the Suzuki Germany team in 2007, Neukirchner has a single career podium to his credit, along with a whole lot of crashes. He will be trying to prove his mettle with respectable finishes in the upcoming season. The key word in that sentence being "finishes." as Nuke has been a frequent collector of the DNF.
Honda
The big news coming out of the Honda (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=4#) camp for 2006 is the absence of the Klaffi team, as well as the pull-out of Winston as the sponsor for the front-running Ten Kate squad. The LCD monitor-making company Hannspree has stepped up to sponsor the premier Ten Kate team, which features James Toseland - the manufacturer's best shot at a title. (Hanspree is also sponsoring the Gresini Honda MotoGP team as well.) Honda will also have two satellite efforts on the grid, the Alto Evolution team - which features former Ten Kate rider Karl Muggeridge- and the D.F.X. Treme squad.
James Toseland - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda - Great Britain - 2nd WSB:</B>
Based on past performance, Toseland has to be considered one of, if not the, top pretender to Bayliss' crown. For starters the British rider was the 2004 WSB champion, and during the last four seasons he has never finished outside of the top-5 overall, including second-place in the championship last season. This year will be Toseland's second for the Ten Kate team, having been passed aside by Ducati after 2005 when the Italian marque opted to go with Bayliss. You can't argue with Ducati's reasoning given the results, but Toseland has a lot of incentive to spoil his former employer's plans by taking the 2007 title. The good news is Toseland was able to beat Haga in a down-to-the-wire race for second overall in '06. The bad news is he was still 95 points behind Bayliss.
Roberto Rolfo - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda - Italy - 16th WSB:
Roberto Rolfo moves up to an established team after a 16th-place 2006 campaign with Caracchi Ducati. A former 250 MotoGP (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=4#) rider - finishing 2nd in the series in 2003 - the Italian's career stalled in the premier MotoGP class before transferring into WSB. Rolfo should benefit from riding for one of the more successful teams in the WSB paddock.
Karl Muggeridge - Alto Evolution Honda - Australia - 12th WSB:
The 2004 World Supersport champion, Muggeridge's career has not met with the same success in the WSB series. Muggas lost his coveted Ten Kate seat after a dismal 2006 campaign. The Aussie was demoted to satellite status with the new Alto Evolution team, where he will ride alongside fellow Australian Joshua Brookes. Although he may not have the same level of support from the garage, it would be difficult for Muggeridge to do worse than '06, which saw multiple DNFs and included a broken back from a testing crash at Valencia. A solid top-10 overall finish would be a positive step forward.
Steve Martin - D.F.X. Treme Honda - Australian - 21st WSB:
Looking at Steve Martin's results from 2006 and it's easy to overlook the veteran rider. Yet, the Australian put in a valiant campaign for the ill-fated Foggy Petronas team to finish 21st overall. Along the way, he suffered a serious crash, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise when a fractured kidney, upon closer examination, revealed a malignant tumor. Martin recovered from his injuries and the subsequent tumor-removal surgery. Now that he healthy and no longer toiling behind the hapless Petronas Triple, he is betting that extra cylinder on the new Honda CBR (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=4#) will translate into better results.
Michel Fabrizio - D.F.X Treme Honda - Italian - 11th WSB:
Fabrizio had a pretty good rookie season, finishing 11th overall, providing a youthful balance on the 2006 D.F.X. team alongside Frankie Chili. With the popular Chili now retired, Fabrizio is partnered up with another veteran in Martin. During his rookie year in WSB, the former MotoGP backpacker tallied perhaps the most unexpected double-podium of the season at Brno (the same crazy round which saw Kagayama's double victory). We'll have to wait and see if there are more surprises in store for 2007.
Kawasaki
After sporting a three-man team last season, the paddock will seem mighty lonesome for Kawasaki in 2007. Gone is Chris Walker, who returned back to British Superbike with Rizla Suzuki (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=5#), but Regis Laconi and Fonsi Nieto remain with PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse. There will be no satellite teams running the ZX-10R during the upcoming season.
Fonsi Nieto - PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse - Spain - 10th WSB:
Nieto didn't blow anyone away in 2006 with Kawasaki, but he did score a third-place podium finish and was consistent enough to just crack the overall top-10. The Spanish rider enters his third year in the series after success in the 250cc GP class. The question is whether the Kawasakis will progress in the upcoming season. Nieto is already on the record saying he feels the two-rider team seems to be more effective, but the ultimate judgment will be in the results.
Regis Laconi - PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse - France - 15th WSB:
Laconi is looking to get his WSB career back on track for 2007, the French rider having finished as runner-up to the championship in 2004. Out of the three riders making up last year's team, Laconi had the least impressive results, with no podiums - although he did show some promise in qualifying at various points in the season. Staying healthy, he should at least do better than 15th.
MV Agusta
A single-bike team will contest 2007 on the legendary racing marque MV Agusta (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=5#). The LBR Racing Team will prep an F4 1000R for Austrian rider Christian Zaiser. The MV Agusta effort doesn't figure to be a major player in the title chase, but it does add a little bit of spice to the manufacturer mix and will be precursor to a much more varied paddock in the future. That is if rumors are to be believed, with Aprilia, Benelli, and KTM whispered to throw their hats into the ring some day soon.
Who's Missing?
Among the missing names on the official final entry list, a noticeable absence is Carl Fogarty. The former four-time WSB champion, whose dominating personality was present on the grid after his retirement with the Foggy Petronas team, was unable to secure financial sponsorship for a 2007 WSB entry.
There were rumors in the off-season that Fogarty would pair up with Ducati. Then when those leads cooled, MV Agusta was the next marque tapped out as a potential Foggy Racing (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4348&Page=5#) collaborator. There was even talk of Fogarty hitching up with former Ducati teammate Neil Hodgson as the team's rider.
The improbable partnership was an unholy union which seemed, and proved to be, a longshot at best, as Hodgson had derided such notions during his 2006 stint in AMA SB. In the end, neither of the charismatic personalities will be present in the 2007 championship - a definite loss for the fans.
WSB is also missing the participation of any American riders. It wasn't too long ago that the Texas Tornado, Colin Edwards, was rioting through the WSB ranks and emerged into the MotoGP pool with a pair of WSB titles to his credit. The trend for American riders, as of late, is to stick it out back in the States with the AMA Superbike series, rather than wander into the WSB ranks.
The lack of Americans leads to another absence in the series. Considering its "World" moniker, the title has only two rounds, Qatar and Phillip Island (this first two of the season), that don't take place in Europe. In this regard, MotoGP is a more global enterprise.
All things considered, the above shortcomings are far, far outweighed by WSB's exciting action on the track. With an entire stable of established stars set to face off, 2007 shows a lot of promise as an exciting season of racing. Make sure to stay tuned to MCUSA for all the latest developments.