Max Biaggi has admitted he nearly didn't take to the grid for the second World Superbike race at Monza after being given a penalty after race one that dropped him from third to 11th.
Shinya Nakano will take no further part in the Valencia World Superbike weekend after breaking his left collarbone in Saturday morning's second qualifying session.
In the latest instalment of Crash.net's preview for the World Superbike Championship, we take a look at the non-British rookies who will be aiming to re-write the rules in 2009... Ben Spies - Yamaha Italia
MotoGP refugee Shinya Nakano has made his debut appearance for Aprilia ahead of his switch to the World Superbike Championship in 2009, as the team also took the opportunity to unveil its race-liveried RSV-4 for the first time.
Having seen his last chance too remain a full time MotoGP rider next season, on a third Kawasaki, evaporate Shinya Nakano has officially called an end to his ten-year grand prix career by signing to ride for Aprilia in the 2009 World Superbike Championship, alongside Max Biaggi.
MotoGP rookie Alex de Angelis is looking to convert practice pace into a strong race finish this weekend in Germany, after admitting that frustration has got the better of him in recent rounds.
The Japanese, who rode a Michelin-shod Honda this season, is back on Bridgestones for 2008 with Honda Gresini - and set the fifth fastest lap time at Jerez, albeit 1.559secs from factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa
"I am pleased with our agreement, which is the meeting point of two companies in the motorcycling world, leading to a joint-venture that optimises their effort for a common global project," declared Giovanni Torri, president of Scot Group.
"The last three seasons have proven to be a real turning point for my company: together with our title sponsor Konica Minolta we have shared some very profitable activities and I would like to say I am proud to have created the Konica Minolta Honda Team," said Montiron.
In a superb home race performance for the Fuchs Kawasaki team, Shinya Nakano scored an historic third place podium finish in the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi.
Saturday afternoon shoppers at Tokyo's Shinagawa Seaside Forest Oval Garden will need to take ear plugs with them this weekend, as Fuchs Kawasaki's Shinya Nakano will make an appearance aboard his Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine ahead of next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
Shinya Nakano bounced back from his huge crash at Mugello with a vengeance at Catalunya on Sunday, the Kawasaki's tar claiming the ZX-RR's best ever result after beating Camel Honda's Max Biaggi to seventh place.
Shinya Nakano burst onto the grand prix scene in impressive fashion in 1999, racking up five podium finishes in his debut season to finish fourth in the 250cc world championship and secure the Rookie of the Year award.
The second of four days of testing at Sepang ended on a high note for the Kawasaki Racing Team, as new rider Shinya Nakano rocketed around the Malaysian circuit faster than he had during October's GP on a Yamaha M1.
Shinya Nakano's 2003 season - and final race with the d'Antin Yamaha team - came to a disappointing end on Sunday at Valencia, when the Japanese hit countryman Tohru Ukawa on lap seven (pictured), taking them both out.
Today at Valencia, Luis d'Antin and Ducati Corse announced the worst kept secret in MotoGP: That the pair would join forces to run a two bike satellite team for the 2004 season 'onwards', with 2003 World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson making his return to the premier GP class as one of the rider
Shinya Nakano suffered a spectacular crash in morning free practice at Brno, highsiding his D'Antin Yamaha at 140mph in a spectacular, but sickening accident that required the Japanese to be airlifted to a nearby Hospital.
Shinya Nakano's Czech Grand Prix may have come to a premature end after the amiable Japanese was hospitalised with concussion after a huge morning practice fall.