Three riders are still in with a chance of absolute title glory - consisting of two seasoned WSBK campaigners and one 'rookie'.
Top of the trio is long-time championship leader
James Toseland who left his home round at
Brands Hatch in August as virtual champion elect, with a 66-point lead and eight race wins to his credit. But after two subsequent tough weekends, at Eurospeedway Lausitz and Vallelunga, the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider's lead has been cut to 29 points heading into his last WSBK race before starting a new career in
MotoGP.
Toseland's two main championship rivals, Max Biaggi - of Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra - and
Noriyuki Haga - Yamaha Motor Italia - have been encouraged by the #52's recent dramas, but both would pay a princely sum to have Toseland's advantage going into the final two races.
There are a total of 50 points up for grabs from any rider capable of winning both races in France.
The 2004 showdown saw Toseland claim his first world title in style - overturning a four point deficit to Ducati team-mate
Regis Laconi. There are almost endless points permutations that would allow any of the top three riders to be crowned in France 2007, but should Toseland win race one the title would be his, no matter the outcome of the second race.
2006 champion
Troy Bayliss is already out of the title fight, but the Ducati legend is the only rider capable of overhauling Toseland's total of race wins this year, having scored his seventh victory at the previous round.
In addition, the double world champion will be all-out to wave goodbye to the 1000cc twin-cylinder era with a win or two in France. Next year WSBK will allow 1200cc twins to compete against the 1000cc fours, albeit with numerous performance checks and balances in place, but having won the world title on a 999 in 2006, Bayliss wants to retire the machine on a high.
Another double SBK champion,
Troy Corser is also chasing a last round victory - in Corser's case a first with the R1 during a debut season with Yamaha Italia that has already yielded eight podiums.
