The list reveals that there will be six of the new 1200cc Ducati 1098Rs on the grid this year, with single-rider entries for former factory pliot Lorenzo Lanzi (R.G.Team) and Czech Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Racing) adding to the two-rider Xerox and Sterilgarda line-ups.
28 riders are expected to contest the full world championship season, representing Italy (7), Japan (6), Spain (5), Australia (4), France (3), Turkey (1), Germany (1) and the Czech Republic (1).
Among the new faces in the WSBK paddock this season will be former
MotoGP star
Carlos Checa, reigning World Supersport champion
Kenan Sofuoglu, reigning BSB champion
Ryuichi Kiyonari, former Repsol Honda 250GP rider Shuhei Aoyama, Australian Russell Holland and Italian Ayrton Badovini.
Two big names returning to the class are former WSBK and MotoGP race winner Makoto Tamada and former BSB champion Gregorio Lavilla, who also has 12 WSBK podiums to his credit.
The opening round of the 2008 WSBK season takes place at Qatar on February 23.
The full provisional list can be seen below:
#11
Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team (YZF R1)
#41
Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team (YZF R1)
#7
Carlos Checa ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda (CBR1000RR)
#23
Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda (CBR1000RR)
#54
Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr (CBR1000RR)
#21
Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox Team (1098R)
#84
Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox Team (1098R)
#76
Max Neukirchner GER Team Alstare Suzuki (GSX-R1000 K8)
#10
Fonsi Nieto ESP Team Suzuki Alstare (GSX-R1000 K8)
#34
Yukio Kagayama JPN Team Suzuki Alstare (GSX-R1000 K8)
#55
Régis Laconi FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse (ZX 10R)
#100
Makoto Tamada JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse (ZX 10R)
#3
Max Biaggi ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven (1098R)
#111
Ruben Xaus ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven (1098R)
#31
Karl Muggeridge AUS D.F. Racing (CBR1000RR)
#83
Russell Holland AUS D.F. Racing (CBR1000RR)
#22
Luca Morelli ITA Alto Evolution Honda (CBR1000RR)
#88
Shuhei Aoyama JPN Alto Evolution Honda (CBR1000RR)
#38
Shinichi Nakatomi JPN YZF Yamaha (YZF R1)
#13
Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Team Pedercini (ZX 10R)
#86
Ayrton Badovini ITA Team Pedercini (ZX 10R)
#96
Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo's (1098R)
#77
Loic Napoleone FRA Grillini Racing Team (YZF R1)
#44
Roberto Rolfo ITA Hannspree Honda Althea (CBR1000RR)
#36
Gregorio Lavilla ESP Paul Bird Motorsport (CBR1000RR)
#57
Lorenzo Lanzi ITA R.G.Team (1098R)
#94
David Checa ESP Yamaha France - GMT 94 (YZF R1)
#194
Sébastien Gimbert FRA Yamaha France - GMT 94 (YZF R1)
