Corser eyes World Championship.

Aprilia factory rider Troy Corser is increasingly confident about his chances in this year's Superbike World Championship following two highly successful pre-season tests.

The Australian rider recorded the fourth fastest time at the open test in Valencia, Spain, despite a foot injury he sustained in an earlier test at Kyalami, South Africa.

"I know the machine very well and we have improved it even more over the winter," Corser said at the recent Aprilia team launch in Venice. "We won't be going for anything less than the world championship."

Corser's focus in Valencia was on developing the Aprilia RSV1000 he rode to third place in the 2000 Superbike World Championship.

"I told the team we were here to get the RSV1000 ready for the first race and not to worry about lap times," Corser said. "We have a lot of work to do and it's important that the bike is ready when the lights go green in the first round."

Corser won five races in 2000 in what was just the second year of racing for his RSV1000.

The Aprilia factory has now provided the machine with more mid-range power at Corser's request, with the new engine also considerably stronger than the previous one.

Despite not chasing a fast lap time in the Valencia test, Corser finished only 0.52sec behind Ducati's Ben Bostrom, who recorded the fastest time.

"I didn't go for a quick time because it was better to complete preparation for the race in March," said Corser, who set the official Valencia lap record on his Aprilia in 2000.

"My ankle will be much better by then and now is not the time to make things worse after my injury in Kyalami.

"This year I'm in it to win - and I think we can do it," he added confidently.

The first round of the Superbike World Championship kicks off on March 11 at Valencia, Spain.