The World Superbike championship may have been rebuilt around private teams during its 2003 split from the manufacturers, and the introduction of an all-Pirelli tyre rule, but
Michel Fabrizio believes the balance has now swung back towards the factory teams more than ever.
A dispute with the manufacturers over technical rules saw only Ducati field a factory team during the 2004 season, but the four Japanese factories have since been 'forced' to increase their WSBK presence - albeit through backing of an existing team - due to the championship's return to popularity and importance in terms of road bike sales.
All the big five manufacturers won a race last season, and the behind-the-scenes factory involvement has increased once again this year. The ten factory-supported riders are as close as ever at the front, but Fabrizio believes life outside of each manufacturer's chosen team is getting harder and harder - despite a victory for Sterilgarda Ducati's
Ruben Xaus last time out in Valencia.
Fabrizio, who rides for DFX Honda, took three podiums last year but has failed to better seventh place from the first eight starts of this season.
"I believe that the world championship in 2007 is the most difficult ever for a private team," sighed the former
MotoGP and World Supersport rider. "We are working hard with the motorcycle and I am sure we can demonstrate that, starting from next race in Assen. Obviously I am not happy at the moment but I will fight to replay the same result of last year."
Fabrizio scored a third place in the wet first race at Assen in 2006, but will not have the back up of his normal team-mate Steve Martin this weekend, as the team's budgetary constraints mean they will drop to just one rider.
