While Corser and Kagayama will ride the 'official' factory backed Suzukis, there will be four permanent GSXR1000 riders this year with a third rider in Alstare colours, 2002 World Supersport Champion Fabien Foret, plus the Celani Team Suzuki Italia machine of 2002 European Superstock Champion, Vittorio Iannuzzo.
However, the Suzuki number one is undoubtedly Corser - who starts the year as the man to beat, but is expected to face a stiff challenge from fellow Australian Bayliss in what is being dubbed 'the battle of the Troys'.
Returning to his ‘alma mater’ after a
MotoGP career punctuated by podium finishes, Bayliss has been on fire in testing, readapting to the latest Ducati 999 in record time; all despite the lingering effects of a severe left forearm injury, suffered late last year on a Camel Honda MotoGP machine.
Forming the second prong in a fierce factory Ducati Xerox attack is double race winner
Lorenzo Lanzi. His two 2005 race wins came in his rookie season, and each success underlined that a new Italian talent was in town - but can he keep up with Bayliss?
Completing the preseason trio of proven title contenders - alongside Corser and Bayliss - is Haga, in whom Yamaha Italia has a proven race winner. Third in the championship last year, 'Nitro Nori' now has one season with the R1 under his belt and faces his best chance since 2000 of a first world title.
Pitt’s battling qualities and front-running in ’05 saw him re-signed for his second season alongside Haga, and a podium finish is his first priority for 2006. Former grand prix hero Norick Abe has a similar aim as the Japanese again leads the Yamaha Motor France charge.
Abe's team-mate of 2005, Sebastien Gimbert, is also back once more but the team also features new talent ion the form of Japanese rider Shinichi Nakatomi, who will run a different suspension set-up from his immediate peers.
