WSBK News

True to the sort of form he showed throughout 2005, reigning World Superbike champion Troy Corser set the pace on the second day of this week's group test at Phillip Island in his native Australia.

Unable to find a ride in MotoGP for the coming season, Max Biaggi appears set to join the stream of riders looking at the rejuvenated World Superbike Championship as a means of continuing or boosting their careers.

A deal signed late last week brings Italian rider Roberto Rolfo to the Corona Extra Superbike World Championship in 2006, riding a Ducati for Scuderia SC Caracchi.

by Mark Dowling The 2005 World Superbike season saw the return of the factory-supported Suzukis to the championship - and it was the GSXR1000 K5 that proved to be the bike that gave Australian Troy Corser his second WSBK crown.

The Foggy Petronas Racing team is still waiting for its founding sponsor to reveal what it wants to happen after the end of the 2006 World Superbike season, which will mark the final year of the present Petronas contract.

An updated version of the 2006 World Superbike and Supersport calendar has today been released, which reveals that the series will conclude in South Africa.

With an Australian World Superbike war looming for 2006 - when former champion Troy Bayliss will return to take on reigning champion Troy Corser - it is Bayliss whom four-times World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty believes "is the better rider".

Shinichi Nakatomi's first ride for the Yamaha Motor France team, with whom he will compete in the 2006 World Superbike Championship, ended on a low note after the Japanese rider ended Thursday in hospital with a hand injury.

Yamaha Motor Germany completed a promising two-day test at Valencia on Thursday, the first track outing for the team's 2006 model YZF-R6.

The Superbike Commission - composed of Paolo Flammini (FGSport), Claude Danis (FIM) and Giulio Bardi (Team representative) - has unanimously decided to introduce the following modifications to the World Superbike, Supersport and Superstock regulations:

The opening day of a two-day Pirelli test session at Valencia gave James Toseland his first chance to sample the Ten Kate Honda CBR1000 Fireblade he will ride in the 2006 World Superbike championship, although wet conditions in Spain severely limited the amount of running as the test got underway

Steve Martin's involvement in the spectacular turn one pile-up at the Magny Cours World Superbike season finale has proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Foggy Petronas rider.

2005 Renegade Honda World Superbike rider Ben Bostrom will return to the AMA Superbike championship again next season after signing to replace younger brother Eric, alongside Neil Hodgson, in the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team - where he will ride a factory 999.

2004 World Superbike champion James Toseland has now been officially announced as a Winston Ten Kate Honda rider for the 2006 WSBK season, having agreed terms with Gerrit and Ronald ten Kate in Holland last Saturday (as previously reported).

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra team manager Francis Batta visited Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan this week and presented the factory with the 2005 World Superbike Championship Manufacturers' Cup - Suzuki's first in the 18-year history of the series.

After consultation between the teams and championship organiser FGSport, the 2006 World Superbike Championship Official Tests schedule has been confirmed as follows. Valencia : March 27th, 28th and 29th. Misano : April 12th and 13th.

The highlight of the restarted race two at Magny Cours on Sunday was undoubtedly the furious race long battle between Japanese aces Yukio Kagayama and Noriyuki Haga for what would turn out to be second position.

Winston Ten Kate's Chris Vermeulen showed the entire field a clean pair of heels for the first race of the final round of the Corona Extra World Superbike Championship at Magny Cours in France.

The Yamaha Germany duo of Broc Parkes and Kevin Curtain stole the show at the final World Supersport round at Magny Cours in France, finishing one two on the podium.

The Magny Cours circuit, venue for this weekend's World Superbike season finale, is a favourite of Yamaha Motor Italia rider Noriyuki Haga, who won the last race of the 2004 season to take third in the championship with Renegade Ducati.

Garry McCoy may have already ridden in his final race for Foggy Petronas following the news that the Australian will be forced to miss this weekend's Magny Cours season finale, after fracturing a bone in his coccyx on Saturday afternoon in Imola.

Winston Ten Kate Honda rider, Chris Vermeulen, had to concede defeat in the 2005 World Superbike championship on Sunday afternoon - after the second race of the penultimate Imola round was cancelled for safety reasons.

The second race of the eleventh round of the Corona Extra World Superbike Championship at Imola is delayed due to heavy rain.

Carl Fogarty has re-signed Steve Martin for his Foggy Petronas Racing team for the 2006 World Superbike Championship campaign. The 36-year-old Australian's skill and determination has impressed Fogarty during a difficult season for FPR in a rejuvenated championship.