The 'phoney war' finally ends at Qatar this Saturday, when the secrecy of pre-season testing is shattered by the roaring reality of the 2006 World Superbike Championship season opener.
An eye watering entry of almost 30 permanent riders (representing six manufacturers) contains three WSBK champions - reigning title holder
Troy Corser, returning 2001 champion
Troy Bayliss and 2004 winner
James Toseland - while Alex Barros,
Ruben Xaus,
Roberto Rolfo and Franco Battaini have confirmed WSBK's growing status by joining Bayliss in the switch from
MotoGP.
Those five have been 'traded' for 2005 WSBK runner-up
Chris Vermeulen, who moves the opposite way, but - in addition to Corser and Toseland - the grand prix group will face fierce competition for SBK glory from the likes of
Noriyuki Haga,
Lorenzo Lanzi,
Karl Muggeridge,
Yukio Kagayama, Pierfranceso Chili, Andrew Pitt, Chris Walker,
Regis Laconi and Steve Martin.
2006 will be the third year of Pirelli control tyre competition - a ruling that was predicted to cripple the championship, but has instead helped to produce arguably the most technically equal road racing world championship on two wheels. The close racing has in turn helped rebuild SBK's prestige in the face of a sustained four-stroke MotoGP onslaught, while simultaneously convincing manufacturers and star riders to participate in the production championship.
For reigning double WSBK champion Corser, Losail will mark the first of 13 rounds over which he will aim to keep his coveted prize - and further confirm his place among the all-time SBK greats. With 31 race wins to his credit, the Alstare Suzuki rider is already tied for second (with Colin Edwards) on the all-time win list and eager to prove his talent against the highly rated 2006 grid.
Corser will be teamed with Yukio Kagayama once again this season and the Japanese, who took a race win at Qatar last season, will be out to prove that his mid-season dip in form was a never-to-be-repeated aberration, as he sets about his task with his usual mix of experience and unrivalled exuberance.
