The FIM World Superbike Championship is entering a new golden era with a deep field of contenders from Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki, all with a shot at the crown in this competitive and wide-open series.

Racing modified versions of the manufacturers’
flagship 1000cc sportbikes, the racing is relatable to the fans yet nearly equal to MotoGP in terms of sheer performance.

With ’07 champion James Toseland off to MotoGP, it’s nearly impossible to pinpoint a firm favorite for this year’s title. Ducati will have two-time SBK king Troy Bayliss and youngster Michel Fabrizio on the factory team and a powerful satellite squad featuring Max Biaggi and Ruben Xaus all riding the all new Ducati 1098R. Suzuki has a three-headed monster featuring Fonsi Nieto, Max Neukirchner, and Yukio Kagayama aboard the GSX-R1000. Honda’s repeat attempt will be once again led by the Ten Kate team with Carlos Checa, Kenan Sofuoglu, and Ryuichi Kiyonari. Yamaha has brought back Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser, who combined to win the manufacturers’ crown last season, while Kawasaki have former GP stars Regis Laconi and Makoto Tamada looking to reestablish the green team’s once dominant position in the series.