Running on Fumes

World Superbike gets underway this weekend at Phillip Island, and racing fans, including myself, eagerly anticipate the new season. Will American Ben Spies be immediately competitive? Will Haga dominate? Can Biaggi and Corser surprise with the new Aprilia and BMW machinery?

Certainly World Superbike has the momentum and a packed 32-rider grid, but MotoGP will also be in action this weekend, with night testing at the Losail circuit.

Grand Prix has struggled to fill its grid for 2009. It also begins the season with many rule changes, not the least of which being a spec Bridgestone tire. But while GP has had a rough off-season, an objective look at the 18-rider roster reveals it is still the most talented road-racing series in the world.

Having a rider by the name of Valentino Rossi guarantees the “most-talented” moniker. Then there is Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, Nicky Hayden, Jorge Lorenzo… Yes, the World Superbike grid is overflowing, but adding up the riders of actual consequence in both series – there are about four or five riders in each championship with legitimate title hopes.

Here is a rundown of the 18-man grid:

Ducati 
Casey Stoner
Nicky Hayden
Mika Kallio
Niccolo Canepa
Sete Gibernau

Honda
Dani Pedrosa
Andrea Dovizioso
Randy de Puniet
Alex de Angelis
Toni Elias
Yuki Takahashi

Yamaha
Valentino Rossi
Jorge Lorenzo
Colin Edwards
James Toseland

Suzuki
Chris Vermeulen
Loris Capirossi 

Kawasaki
Marco Melandri