Suzuki's Germany's Max Neukirchner has been the most consistently fast privateer in race trim this year, despite riding a 2006 machine, and his six strong points scores place him at the head of a very close battle for the last few top ten places. Right behind him, by only a single point, is the top placed Spanish rider so far,
Ruben Xaus riding a 2006 factory Ducati for the Sterilgarda team. Another few points behind is Toseland’s team-mate
Roberto Rolfo now gaining confidence since his swap from a privateer big twin to a full-on four-cylinder.
The last place in the top ten thus far is held by Spanish superstar
Fonsi Nieto, but after a great ride at Valencia last year he expects to be in the mix and up the order by close of play on Sunday night. Ironically, the nature of the Spanish circuit will not help his cause too much, as his big PSG-1 Kawasaki is not best suited to the tight Valencia circuit. Nonetheless, both he and his team-mate
Regis Laconi are expected to get the most out of their machines at a track they have tested at recently.
Biaggi's team-mate
Yukio Kagayama will be at Valencia, with the Japanese rider hoping to be fit once more after another big crash at
Donington, following on from his misadventures at the Phillip Island meeting.
SC Caracchi Ducati's Jakub Smrz has been a quiet revelation in the midfield since his move to World Superbike, and now sits 13th, having scored two top ten finishes at Donington Park, and having netted points five times in six attempts. Just behind Smrz, DFX Honda's
Michel Fabrizio is out for two solid finishes to get his top-ten challenge on track again, while his team-mate Steve Martin hopes to get his machine performance up to meet his expectations.
Alto Evolution Honda riders
Karl Muggeridge and Josh Brookes were among many of the midfield riders who rode at the Official Valencia SBK tests in March, and like many others they also hope that the technical circuit in Spain will level the playing field somewhat up to the top runners.
