The list of strong talent in the midfield of any SBK race this season is impressive to behold, but the likes of
Ruben Xaus on board his Berik Sterilgarda Ducati,
Roberto Rolfo with the Ducati SC Caracchi machine, Norick Abe on the Yamaha Motor France bike et al will be strengthened by former AMA Supersport Champion and
MotoGP rider Kurtis Roberts, who has joined the Pedercini Ducati squad to replace the outgoing Max Neukirchner.
Regular British Championship runner Tommy Hill riding for Virgin Mobile Yamaha proved that the wildcard concept is far from over in World Superbike when he scored a remarkable pole position during the first British SBK round of 2006, at
Silverstone. Out to repeat that feat and then build on it at Brands, Hill is back in SBK action once more, ready to make the regulars take note.
After a series of dramatic changes in fortune, and the re-emergence of some early season talents, the World Supersport championship is once more completely wide open as
Brands Hatch approaches. 2005 Champion Sebastien Charpentier on the Winston Ten Kate Honda could only finish 11th at Brno in the most recent round, having also missed the previous Misano outing after suffering pelvic and collarbone injuries in testing. Despite his misfortune he still leads the championship, thanks to his four previous race wins and a third at Monza, but he now heads Brno race winner Kevin Curtain on the Yamaha Motor Germany by only ten points.
