Chris Walker has hit back at suggestions the World Superbike championship has lost its renowned level of competitiveness following the defection of champions'
Colin Edwards and
Troy Bayliss to
MotoGP and a lack of factory teams.
Over the winter, series stars
Noriyuki Haga and Ben Bostrom also left the series (for MotoGP and AMA SBK respectively) which, combined with Honda withdrawing their factory outfit, has left Ducati Corse and riders Neil Hodgson and
Ruben Xaus with a distinct advantage over the rest of the privateer field, many of whom are running one-, two- and even three-year old Ducatis.
As such, the pre-season title race was predicted to be between Hodgson and Xaus, and with the spectacular - but accident prone - Spaniard testing gravel traps at every event since the Valencia season opener, combined with almost perfect performances from Hodgson, the Brit has built up a commanding 122 point lead.
However, the racing has often been closer and more thrilling than the results suggest with Walker, Toseland, Xaus and Suzuki rider Lavilla all providing an increasing challenge.
"People have said that World Superbike is a little bit lacking this year but I can tell you that from a rider's point of view it's as tough as it's ever been," declared the HM Plant rider. "Every year the pace gets hotter and hotter and although Neil Hodgson is obviously very much in charge of the championship, the racing has got a lot more interesting recently.
"There's any number of riders who could be in with a shot to win this weekend (at Brands Hatch) and because this is the UK, there's always the threat of the wild cards," he added. "Sean Emmett seems to have a new lease of life and Reynolds and Kagayama are going really well at the moment.
"Getting on the podium at Laguna Seca was good for my confidence on the run up to Brands and now I'm really revved up for this one," warned 'The Stalker'.
The World Superbike Championship looks likely to return to its privateer roots next season, with manufacturers refusing to return to the series after new rules, including spec tyres, were announced.
