As the world’s best Superbike riders roll into Phillip Island this weekend for the opening round of the 2010 World Superbike Series in Australia, the championship is shaping up to be as tightly knit and action-packed as anything in recent memory.

And although motorcycle sales worldwide are still declining, series promoter Infront Sports has somehow managed to keep up a strong Superbike grid. It is slightly down, with eight less privateers, but the main rider lineup is still quite impressive. How have they done this? Good racing, plain and simple.

With all seven major manufacturers returning, some even adding satellite teams, there have only been a few minor casualties this off-season. The biggest loss has been Stiggy Motorsports Honda, which fielded Leon Haslam (more on him later) fulltime last year and John Hopkins for a few rounds before he was injured. On the other hand, the series sees the addition of a new factory-supported BMW squad – Team Reitwagen. The Germans were new to the series just last year but are already adding a two-rider satellite squad for this season.

As for the big rider news, 2009 series champ Ben Spies has moved on to MotoGP, swapping seats with former two-time World Superbike Champion James Toseland. King James comes in as the most decorated in what will be a British-rider-dominated series; seven total on the grid. He will be joined on the Sterilgarda Yamaha squad by last year's World Supersport Champion and fellow Brit Cal Crutchlow, making for an all-new but still strong Yamaha team.

Also included in the British contingent will be '09 BSB Champion and fulltime WSBK rookie Leon Camier, who landed himself a coveted factory Aprilia ride. Camier had a two-round tryout at the end of last season, with a best finish of sixth in Portugal, proving impressive enough to end up on the now Alitalia-backed team for good. He will have to learn the tracks quickly to be on pace, though we know he'll have a plenty capable bike in the Aprilia RSV4, so machinery won’t be an issue.

MotoGP-transplant Chris Vermeulen returns to World Superbike, landing on the Paul Bird Motorsports Kawasaki team after a long tenure at Suzuki in Grand Prix. Can he turn what has been an uncompetitive bike thus far into a race winner? According to Kawasaki the British team will be fully factory-backed from Japan. As Team Green is no longer in MotoGP or AMA Superbike, all of the attention and budget is said to be going into WSBK. This is the first year in a two-year deal for Chris the V. He will be joined by U.K. native Tom Sykes, who comes over after a less-than-stellar year at the Sterilgarda Yamaha team.

Also Kawasaki-bound, but on a much more privateer team, is America’s own Roger Lee Hayden. The youngest Hayden brother has signed on to ride for Team Pedercini, and will have a tough task in front of him, not only setting up the bike but learning new tracks at the same time. Though as the only American in the field, he'll have no shortage of fans from this side of the pond!

The French connection will be represented by WSBK rookie but veteran rider Sylvain Guintoli, who comes into the Alstare Suzuki team alongside Haslam after an up-and-down year in British Superbike in 2009. Guintoli had a promising couple years in MotoGP prior to last season where he showed glimpses of immense talent despite being on an under-powered bike with inferior tires.

Speaking of Haslam, the young son of GP legend Ron Haslam is one of the bigger moves within the WSBK paddock this off-season. He is switching from the now-defunct Stiggy Honda – which he was surprisingly fast on – to the factory Alstare Suzuki team. The Brit was instantly at home on the GSX-R1000 and has been impressively quick in pre-season testing.

Young German Max Neukirchner has left Alstare Suzuki to join title-hopeful Jonathan Rea on the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda squad; look for both to be front-runners and Rea to be a possible championship contender in his second year in the premier class. Spaniard Carlos Checa leaves the Ten Kate team for a spot on the Ducati-supported Althea Racing team alongside Englishman Shane Byrne, who rode for Sterilgarda Ducati last season, another team which is no more.

But the big question still remains: Can Noriyuki Haga finally be World Superbike Champion? Seemingly always coming up just short, the perennial bridesmaid just missed out to Spies last year with a fall in the final round. The Japanese rider has grown and matured steadily each season and will stay with factory Ducati Xerox team for a second year in 2010. He’ll have plenty of competition though, including his own teammate, Michael Fabrizio, who, when upright, is very quick. Expect ex-MotoGP man Max Biaggi, in his second year on the factory Aprilia, to be a serious title threat as well.

So, let’s take a look at the 26 riders, riding for 16 teams, to get ready for the opening WSBK round this coming weekend!

Aprilia RSV4
Teams: Alitalia Aprilia Racing

Max Biaggi #3 – Alitalia Aprilia Racing – Italy
2009 Results: 4th SBK, 9 podiums, 1 win (Aprilia Racing)
Coming into his second-year on the Italian dream team he built for himself at Aprilia (most of the crew dating back to his 250cc GP championship days with the brand), expect the Roman Emperor to be consistent threat for race wins and possibly the title. Last year saw him put the all-new RSV4 on the podium nine times, including one win in Brno. Now with a year’s development and new title-sponsor in Italian airline Alitalia, the team looks poised for something big.

Leon Camier #2 – Alitalia Aprilia Racing – U.K.
2009 Results: British Superbike Champion (Airwaves Yamaha)
Fresh off absolutely dominating the British Superbike Championship last year aboard a Yamaha, the 24-year-old racer impressed Aprilia with a wildcard finish of sixth in Race 1 in Portimao, which he then backed up with a seventh in Race 2. This was enough to land him the coveted second seat with the factory squad. No doubt talented, Camier will have to learn the tracks quickly to be a threat.

BMW S1000RR
Teams: BMW Motorrad Motorsport, Team Reitwagen BMW

Troy Corser #11 – BMW Motorrad – Australia
2009 Results: 13th SBK (BMW Motorrad)
Returning to the team in the second year of what was a two-year deal, the former World Superbike Champion has always been know as a very good development rider, as well as someone who can perform come race time. Despite teething problems in the first season, Corser managed to put the Bavarian motorcycle in the top-10 eight times, with a best finish of fifth in Race 2 in Brno, as well as setting the fastest lap in the opening race at Phillip Island. If the bike can progress to the same level as the likeable Aussie’s talent, the pair could easily be a podium contender. 

Ruben Xaus #111 – BMW Motorrad – Spain
2009 Results: 17th SBK (BMW Motorrad)
With a World Superbike tenure spanning all the way back to 1998, minus a hiatus in 2005 to ride a privateer Ducati in MotoGP, Xaus is no stranger to the podium and winning races. Although 2009 was a rough year on the new bike, the Spaniard has 13 career WSBK victories. If the crash-happy but always-determined Xaus can get the BMW dialed in to his liking and keep the rubber side down, don’t be surprised to see him run in the top-five, with even a possible podium or win mixed in. If he can keep it upright...

Andrew Pitt #88 – Team Reitwagen BMW – Australia
2009 Results: 6th World Supersport (Ten Kate Honda)
Though he has had some mild success in the Superbike ranks, Pitt is best known for being a front-running World Supersport contender. The Aussie has two such championships to his credit, one for Ten Kate Honda in 2008 and the other for Kawasaki in 2001, as well as a sole World Superbike win in 2006 aboard a factory Yamaha. The transition from a 600 back to a 1000 could prove tough, especially on the brand-new BMW.

Roland Resch #123 – Team Reitwagen BMW – Austria

Ducati 1198R
Teams: Ducati Xerox, Althea Racing, DFX Corse

Noriyuki Haga #41 – Ducati Xerox – Japan
2009 Results: 2nd SBK, 19 podiums, 9 wins (Xerox Ducati) The forever bridesmaid he may be, Haga still comes into the season as the odds-on favorite for the title. After just losing out last season in the final round to rookie sensation Spies, the Japanese star remains on the factory Ducati team and has his aim set for that elusive first title. Last year saw him capture 19 podiums, including nine wins, only losing the title to Spies by a mere eight points. Not an easy pill to swallow, expect Haga to come back motivated and with one goal in mind.

Michel Fabrizio #84 – Ducati Xerox – Italy
2009 Results: 3rd SBK, 15 podiums, 3 wins (Ducati Xerox)
Last year marked the true realization of Fabrizio’s talent. While he’s showed signs of speed in the past, 2009 saw him put it to consistent good use, ending up third in the championship behind his teammate with 15 podiums and the first three wins of his Superbike career. The only issue for the Italian has been keeping the bike on two wheels the entire season, as even last year he had several big get-offs, including one that took out Spies. If able to keep things together, the talented Italian will no question win races and be a week-in and week-out podium finisher. As for a championship contender, well...

Carlos Checa #7 – Althea Racing – Spain
2009 Results: 7th SBK, 4 podiums (Ten Kate Honda)
After an impressive year in 2008 and pegged as a title hopeful for 2009, the 38-year-old Spaniard didn’t fulfill his potential on the Ten Kate squad and as such finds himself riding for a Ducati support team for this season. That said, the ex-MotoGP rider has been around a long time and is never one to be counted out, so he could turn some heads if he can adapt to the big-bore V-Twin quickly.

Shane Byrne #67 – Althea Racing – U.K.
2009 Results: 8th SBK, 1 podium (Team Sterilgarda Ducati)
“Shakey” Byrne as most call him took the 2008 British Superbike Championship before entering the world stage last year. And while he struggled some on the under-funded Sterilgarda Ducati, this Althea team looks to be far better equipped, so don’t be surprised to see the likeable London-native on the podium. He's been very fast in pre-season testing.

Lorenzo Lanzi #57 – DFX Corse – Italy
2009 Results: 26th SBK
A three-time World Superbike race winner and one-time Ducati factory rider, Italian Lanzi has always been a fan favorite among Ducatisti. Though with the exception of a win in 2008 on a pivateer Duc, he has lacked the results needed recently to secure another top ride. But now the DFX Corse team have given him a fighting shot as its sole rider in 2010.
 
Jakob Smrz #96 – Team Pata Racing Ducati – Czech
Luca Scassa #99 – SupersonicRacing Team – Italy

Honda CBR1000RR
Teams: HANNspree Ten Kate, Pro Ride World Superbike, S.C.I Honda Gravie Image, ECHO CRS Honda

Jonathan Rea #65 – HANNspree Ten Kate Honda – U.K.
2009 Results: 5th SBK, 8 podiums, 2 wins (Ten Kate Honda)
Johnny Rea comes into the 2010 season hot off the heels of a successful first season in World Superbike, one which saw him on the podium regularly and one of the few riders to battle Spies heads up for a race win. It’s for this reason the Rea is pegged by some to be a title contender, maybe even a favorite, as long as the 23-year-old can put together a consistent season without any mistakes.

Max Neukirchner #76 – HANNspree Ten Kate Honda – Germany
2009 Results: 16th SBK, 2 podiums (Alstare Suzuki)
Injuries plagued the 27-year-old in 2009, holding him back from his true potential as he sat most of the season on the sidelines. Even so, during the few races he was healthy he managed to put the sometimes under-powered Alstare Suzuki on the podium twice in eight races. While most thought he was already signed to stay on the Suzuki for this season, when Ten Kate found out he was available they immediately scooped up the friendly German. If that doesn’t say something about his talent, we don’t know what does.

Broc Parkes #23 – ECHO CRS Honda – Australia 
Makoto Tamada #49 – Pro Ride World Superbike Honda – Japan
Vittorio Iannuzzo #31 – S.C.I Honda Gravie Image Honda – Italy

Kawasaki ZX-10R
Teams: Kawasaki Racing Team, Team Pedercini

Chris Vermeulen #77 – Kawasaki Racing Team – Australia
2009 Results: 12th MotoGP (Suzuki)
Coming into the Paul Bird-run factory Kawasaki Racing Team after a multi-year stint for Suzuki in MotoGP, Vermeulen returns to the series that gave him is big break, which came riding for Ten Kate Honda. No doubt capable of winning if the bike can match his talent, judging by the team’s lackluster results last year Chris the V may have some work ahead of him. Though with full-factory backing from Kawasaki Japan this year, he should have plenty of help.

Tom Sykes #66 – Kawasaki Racing Team – U.K.
2009 Results: 9th SBK (Sterilgarda Yamaha)
Sykes was paired up with rookie sensation Ben Spies last year on the Sterilgarda Yamaha team, which put him in a position of being overshadowed right away. Reliable sources in the U.K. scene say Sykes has loads of talent and can win if put on the right bike. Maybe the combination of a Kawasaki ZX-10R and an English-run team will be a better fit for the Brit.

Roger Lee Hayden #95 – Team Pedercini – U.S.A.
2009 Results: 12th Daytona SportBike (Attack Kawasaki)
After a rough year in the U.S., in which he was pushed into a Kawasaki satellite team and his contractually-promised Superbike ride taken away, Hayden had a hard time getting the ZX-6R set-up to his liking in '09. But the Kentucky boy has several past Supersport wins to his credit as well as a few year's experience on Kawasaki ZX-10R Superbikes, not to mention a good relationship with Kawasaki Japan. Though given the lightly-supported team and all-new tracks, the youngest Hayden could have an uphill battle this season. Maybe being the lone American in the series will persuade Team Green to slip him some factory parts under the back door? 

Matteo Baiocco #15 – Team Pedercini – Italy

Suzuki GSX-R1000
Teams: Alstare Suzuki

Leon Haslam #91 – Alstare Suzuki – U.K.
2009 Results: 6th SBK (Stiggy Honda)
Despite riding an under-funded satellite Honda last year, Haslam showed immense promise with four podium finishes and one fastest lap. This proved to be enough to land the U.K. rider a now full-factory-backed Alstare ride on the sole Suzuki team in the championship this year. Haslam was been at or near the top of the timesheets all off-season, instantly gelling with the new bike and team. The Englishman could be a race winner this year, as well as a potential title threat .

Sylvain Guintoli #50 – Alstare Suzuki – France
2009 Results: 8th British Superbike (Worx Crescent Suzuki)
Guintoli comes into the Alstare team after an up-and-down season in British Superbike. He started strong with several wins but was taken out on a warm-up lap early in the season and suffered a badly-broken leg. This took a good deal of time to come back from, though when he did he was instantly on pace. The once Yamaha MotoGP Frenchman has always showed speed and talent but has yet to have a competitive bike or injury-free season. Could 2010 change all that? Alstare Suzuki is betting on it.

Yamaha YZF-R1
Teams: Sterilgarda Yamaha

James Toseland #52 – Sterilgarda Yamaha – U.K.
2009 Results: 14th MotoGP (Tech 3 Yamaha)
Toseland switched seats with America's own Mr. Spies for 2010, coming back to the World Superbike Championship in which he has had great success with two past championships. The Englishman will have one of the best bikes in the field and the reigning champion’s team around him. Some have him pegged as a title favorite, joining Haga at the top of the list to take the crown. Though one question still remains: Did his rough two years in MotoGP cause a subsequent loss of confidence? And will that hurt his speed in World Superbike?

Cal Crutchlow #35 – Sterilgarda Yamaha – U.K.
2009 Results: World Supersport Champion (Yamaha)
Crutchlow was able to capture the ultra-completive World Supersport title in his rookie season last year and his now moving up to race with the big boys in Superbike. He joins Toseland in an all-English rider lineup for the Italian-based Sterilgarda team. Judging by his ultra-fast pace in pre-season testing, being a rookie to the class should do little to hold him back.