WSBK » Lavilla secures WSBK return.

Glad to see Greg back on the world stage. It would have been a shame if he had drifted away after the last three years in BSB. He should go well. He is a bit like Corser in the way he rides, very neat, tidy and deceptively fast. I hope Birdy can give him the package to be competetive.

Good to see a Brit team in there too. No offence to Greg, he's a great rider and top bloke too and good to see him back, but would rather have seen a Brit rider on the bike. Maybe Birdy will run a second bike later and give one of the young guns a ride.

Another top rider for another top season of world class racing. The MotoGp will be beaten to death by exitement in this series next year.

Its good to see hes going to WSBK but i would have felt better if he had gotten a factory ride. To be successful you have to have the right rider and bike. The new blade should do well but i don't think he will be a podium regular or win very many races. He will probably be a mid pack rider like most privateers. Look what happened to Laconi after he got fired from Ducati. He hasn't been a winner since.

I wish him well but he needs a serious, well funded, factory backed team like Alstare to win races and win championships, Paul Bird isn't going to cut it. He will be in the top 10 but not top 5.

Ducman, I fear you might be right. The thing with Paul Bird is that he likes to do things his own way. Could work for him, could work against him. In BSB his private bikes were knocking at the door of the factory bikes. Lavilla might be what Birdy needs to open that door. I hope so but midfield seems more likely.

"World Superbike stage with its factory-backed Honda."

This is what it states in the article, whether it's the same as the Hanspree Honda's remains to be seen, Baros didn't do too badly on a private Honda though.

There is a real difference between "factory backed" and a "factory support" team. I think he will do well but if you remember Baros only won 1 race and got a poduim or 2. How many wins and podiums did DFX Honda get, or even the factory Kawasaki team? Not many if any. How many "privateer" Ducati's got on the box? NONE!!! Its very likely that Gregs ability will more then the bike can give as is the case with most privateer machines.

To be a champ you need a factory built bike with factory mechanics and a factory budget.
Greg will do his year with Bird and move to a factory team next year.

Dont be surprised when u see him in the #1 seat on the Factory Xerox Ducati team in 2009 after Bayliss wins the title and retires. Remember there is NO heir apparent after Troy gone and Greg has a great relationship with Ducati. Not to mention he did win the BSB title on a Ducati 999F05.

In my opinion, he using bird to get back into the series and plans a put forth a serious
title effort in 2009 on a factory bike.

Let's not underestimate Birdy's team - this year, the bikes were really competitive and frequently the next best Honda's after the factory HM Plant machines.
Lavilla showed he could still win this season on the very out-classed 999 so I wouldn't write him off.

I'am sure Shakey will be a little peeved,he must have regretted leaving Bird.I wish Gregorio all the success he deserves.Bird is taking a big risk with only one rider with the small risk of injury.