World Superbikes & Supports 2016

[kals]

The 2016 season is a couple of weeks away. 2015 was dominated by Jonny Rea on the Kawasaki but the season was anything than boring. There were memorable races at Phillip Island and Sepang to name a couple.

Calender
1 - Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, 28 February
2 - Chang International Circuit, 13 March
3 - Motorland Aragón, 3 April
4 - TT Circuit Assen, 17 April
5 - Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, 1 May
6 - Sepang International Circuit, 15 May
7 - Donington Park, 29 May
8 - World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, 9 June
9 - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, 10 July
10 - Autodromo Nazionale Monza, 24 July
11 - EuroSpeedway Lausitz, 18 September
12 - Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, 2 October
13 - Circuito de Jerez, 16 October
14 - Losail International Circuit, 30 October

Teams and Riders
Kawasaki Racing Team - Kawasaki ZX-10R
1 Jonathan Rea
66 Tom Sykes

MV Agusta Reparto Corse - MV Agusta 1000 F4
2 Leon Camier

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati - Ducati 1199 Panigale R
7 Chaz Davies
34 Davide Giugliano

Grillini Racing Team - Kawasaki ZX-10R
9 Dominic Schmitter
16 Josh Hook

Team Tóth - Yamaha YZF-R1
10 Imre Tóth
56 Péter Sebestyén

Pedercini Racing - Kawasaki ZX-10R
11 Saeed Al Sulaiti
20 Sylvain Barrier

Barni Racing Team - Ducati 1199 Panigale R
12 Javier Forés

IodaRacing Team - Aprilia RSV4 1000 F
15 Alex de Angelis
32 Lorenzo Savadori

Milwaukee BMW - BMW S1000RR
17 Karel Abraham
25 Josh Brookes

Althea BMW Racing Team- BMW S1000RR
21 Markus Reiterberger
81 Jordi Torres

Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team - Yamaha YZF-R1
22 Alex Lowes
50 Sylvain Guintoli

Team Goeleven - Kawasaki ZX-10R
40 Román Ramos

Honda World Superbike Team - Honda CBR1000RR SP
60 Michael van der Mark
69 Nicky Hayden

VFT Racing Ducati - 1199 Panigale R
61 Fabio Menghi

NOTES
- Nicky Hayden moves from MotoGP to the Works Honda team
- 2014 Champion Syvain Guintoli moves to the Works Yamaha team after a disastrous season with the Works Honda team
- 2015 BSB Champion Josh Brookes moves to WSBK along with Sean Muir's Milwaukee squad

[ReneLotus]

Rea was absolutely awesome last year and it'll be intersting to see how he fares this year having the number 1 on his plate.
One of the more interesting interteam battles will be between Van der Mark and Hayden. VDM showed some real quality last year, but also made a few rookie errors. Hayden on the other hand is coming into the class from MotoGP where he struggled the last few seasons. Will he be able to re-ignite his old spark?

[kals]

Rea got a title he's deserved for many years. On the Honda his career and ability was being wasted. Guintoli suffered from that last year. I fear the same for Hayden and VDM. Honda's WSBK effort has been mostly half-arsed since Edwards 2002 title, bar 2006 and 2007 when James Toseland was able to compete. That's a little unfair on the Ten Kate squad who are very capable. But Honda needs to either commit or GTFO.

[Andy]

I really like the circuit line up. Good bunch of circuits there

[Metzo]

great to see them returning to Monza and the EuroSpeedway, i'm thinking about visiting that round.

[Andy]

Actually, I ponder that round too.
But that would mean giving either Frohburg or Scarborough a miss the following weekend.

[Andy]

The WSB season kicks off at Phillip Island this weekend. One great circuit and I`m really excited already.
The biggest change so far is that the 2 races are spread across Sturday & Sunday now. Means race 1 coverage at Eurosport Int'l kicks off 5am CET / 6am GMT on Saturday !
Race 2 on Sunday at the same time. And from 3:30am CET/4:30am GMT on Sunday the Supersport race.

[kals]

Yeah can't wait. Thanks for the note on the changes, I wasn't aware the races were being split. Do you know why the change?

[Andy]

Yeah can't wait. Thanks for the note on the changes, I wasn't aware the races were being split. Do you know why the change?

As far as I remember it is Dornas attempt to make it more 'attractive' to watch, at least that was the official reason when the changes were announced.

[Everso Biggyballies]

The WSB season kicks off at Phillip Island this weekend. One great circuit and I`m really excited already.

P.I. is a great track for cars, but a brilliant track for bikes.

[Andy]

The WSB season kicks off at Phillip Island this weekend. One great circuit and I`m really excited already.

P.I. is a great track for cars, but a brilliant track for bikes.

Still remember the days when Max Biaggi and Ralf Waldmann fought for the 250cc crown and yes, I have to say it was a brilliant circuit back then and still is to this day

[kals]

Guintoli was fastest in FP2 on the Yamaha just ahead of Rea. VDM was quick on the Honda.

[Andy]

I definately won't make it to the qualis tonight but to race 1. I still ponder whether to get up for the supersport race on Sunday, too. 3:30am start of coverage and I`ll need all my need for the on call week coming up. Knowing me though my alarm will be set to 3am Sunday

[Andy]

Really good race 1.
Reigning champ Johnny Rea (Kawasaki) took the laurels from Chaz Davies (Ducati) and Mickey van der Mark (Honda). Rookie Markus Reiterberger (BMW) crashed on the final lap in 10th in the attempt of overtaking Nicky Hayden. It deserves a mention, that once Reiterberger warmed up to racing in wsb his laptimes were on the top 3 level throughout the race.
Leon Camier finished in a honourable 7th place on the MV Agusta. A pretty exciting, open race with a group of five battling for the lead until almost 3/4th distance when the top three broke off.

[kals]

Great race, VDM and Giuliano are so fun to watch. What happened to Nicky Hayden on the last lap? I know he dropped off in the later laps but he was 7th going into the last lap and ended 9th.