Lavilla secures WSBK return.

Glad to see Greg back on the world stage. It would have been a shame if he had drifted away after the last three years in BSB. He should go well. He is a bit like Corser in the way he rides, very neat, tidy and deceptively fast. I hope Birdy can give him the package to be competetive.

Good to see a Brit team in there too. No offence to Greg, he's a great rider and top bloke too and good to see him back, but would rather have seen a Brit rider on the bike. Maybe Birdy will run a second bike later and give one of the young guns a ride.

Another top rider for another top season of world class racing. The MotoGp will be beaten to death by exitement in this series next year.

Its good to see hes going to WSBK but i would have felt better if he had gotten a factory ride. To be successful you have to have the right rider and bike. The new blade should do well but i don't think he will be a podium regular or win very many races. He will probably be a mid pack rider like most privateers. Look what happened to Laconi after he got fired from Ducati. He hasn't been a winner since.

I wish him well but he needs a serious, well funded, factory backed team like Alstare to win races and win championships, Paul Bird isn't going to cut it. He will be in the top 10 but not top 5.

Ducman, I fear you might be right. The thing with Paul Bird is that he likes to do things his own way. Could work for him, could work against him. In BSB his private bikes were knocking at the door of the factory bikes. Lavilla might be what Birdy needs to open that door. I hope so but midfield seems more likely.

"World Superbike stage with its factory-backed Honda."

This is what it states in the article, whether it's the same as the Hanspree Honda's remains to be seen, Baros didn't do too badly on a private Honda though.

There is a real difference between "factory backed" and a "factory support" team. I think he will do well but if you remember Baros only won 1 race and got a poduim or 2. How many wins and podiums did DFX Honda get, or even the factory Kawasaki team? Not many if any. How many "privateer" Ducati's got on the box? NONE!!! Its very likely that Gregs ability will more then the bike can give as is the case with most privateer machines.

To be a champ you need a factory built bike with factory mechanics and a factory budget.
Greg will do his year with Bird and move to a factory team next year.

Dont be surprised when u see him in the #1 seat on the Factory Xerox Ducati team in 2009 after Bayliss wins the title and retires. Remember there is NO heir apparent after Troy gone and Greg has a great relationship with Ducati. Not to mention he did win the BSB title on a Ducati 999F05.

In my opinion, he using bird to get back into the series and plans a put forth a serious
title effort in 2009 on a factory bike.

Let's not underestimate Birdy's team - this year, the bikes were really competitive and frequently the next best Honda's after the factory HM Plant machines.
Lavilla showed he could still win this season on the very out-classed 999 so I wouldn't write him off.

I'am sure Shakey will be a little peeved,he must have regretted leaving Bird.I wish Gregorio all the success he deserves.Bird is taking a big risk with only one rider with the small risk of injury.

The real question is, how far in to the season will it be,
before Bird starts moaning? ;)

I think it's fair to say that Lavilla will help the team get established in wsb next year, but it's a one year deal for both parties. If he performs well, then maybe he'll stay on as part of a two man team. Bird can say all he wants about one man outfit being more successful for him, but the sponsors do think otherwise ?? Duncan, I couldn't see Lavilla being heir apparent to Bayliss, at any stage in long career..Ducati will want 'new blood' to fill that roll and have employed services of a Roman to hopefully take that mantle. But, talking of Romans, is it not far more likely Biaggi would stand a better chance of inhereting Bayliss ride, to cap his career striving for a crown on a Ducati ??

Is Leon Camier on a 2 year deal with Airwaves - perhaps year 3 he will be on the factory Ducati?

I agree with Luke - Bird s got money enough to secure a great bike. Barros Klaffi team was short of funds. And we dont know how good the 07 stobart cbr s were as sykes and shakey, being fast, are not lavilla imho. I think he ll be a regular top 5 if the bike works ok.

Xaus won in velncia last year and his ducati is not factory so if we get a wet race nexy year you could see lavilla on the podium, but if we look at the field this year its going to be very tough to get those 3 spaces on the podium should be a cracking 08 in wsbk

Sorry i mean the field for next year.

I agree with most of the comments posted here, it would have been great to see a brit on birdy's bike? but lavilla is a big name and all the young guns are taken now,Hodgson could have done a good job for Bird? It would have given us someone to shout for next year, cannot wait for the new season to start.

Comment who take over from Bayliss on works Ducati, stories here in Italy, part of Max Biaggi deal is he works rider in 2009. only talk but may be true

Surely Hodgson has shot himself in the foot by waiting for a good ride for so long, nobody knows what he is capable of, he should taken the best that was on offer and used that as a springboard into a decent team/ride

Go luck to the team and to Gregorio, I think he was probably shafted by Wright and Airwaves but he looks have eventually got a job where he wants to be.
The only downside is, win or lose, Bird will still slag the **** out of Lavilla when he leaves, just like McWilliams, Rutter and Lavarty, Byrne and Sykes.