After a long summer break the 2010 World Superbike Championship shuttles into western Germany at the Nurburgring circuit this weekend. Moving into its 11th round, the series has just three circuits remaining before a new world champion is crowned. Currently leading the championship by 60 points is Aprilia’s Max Biaggi. The point separation may seem enormous with only six races left, but 150 points are still up for grabs in the remaining three rounds. In the last two races at Silverstone Yamaha Sterilgarda’s Cal Crutchlow had a big weekend after earning the double victory ahead of Irishman Jonathan Rea. Meanwhile, the championship leader struggled to break into the top-five, taking a 5-6 result after two mediocre contests. The 5.137-km Nurburgring circuit is frequently cited as a favorite by riders and features elevation changes as well as plenty of overtaking sections. With riders being fully rested and a championship title that has come down to only a few races, fans can expect a thrilling climax as the top-10 jockey amongst each other for final points.
 
The Aprilia Alitalia crew of Biaggi and Leon Camier will go to work again this weekend by attempting the team’s 11th victory of the season at Nurburgring. In addition to the 10 wins earned solely by Biaggi, the team has accrued another seven podium finishes, three scored on behalf of Englishman Camier. Last year Biaggi failed to finish on the podium at the German circuit and had to settle for a 5-4 result with Rea taking the top honors in Race 2. The Roman Emperor feels optimistic about his chances in the next round, however, and more than anything just wants to be back on his bike.
 
“The holidays are important and pleasant, of course, but the call of the race is always irresistible,” said Biaggi. “We'll be on the Nurburgring, a nice track, I'd say less disagreeable to our RSV4 than Silverstone and the last leg of the season, the decisive leg, awaits us. Our opponents are ready to take advantage of every false move we make. There are still six races and that's 150 points up for grabs, so mathematically anything is still possible. For the entire team this is the time to find maximum concentration again. Each race from here on out can be decisive."
 
Biaggi’s closest rival in the championship comes fromSuzuki Alstare’s Leon Haslam. The English rider is 60 points behind in the series but took a 3-4 result in the last round at his home circuit to close in on Biaggi’s lead. The runner-up in the championship has had a strong season so far, beginning with his 1-2 score at the season opener at Phillip Island. He’s consistently finished inside the top-five for the majority of the season and has earned numerous podium finishes. Like Biaggi, Haslam failed to make it on the podium last year in Germany. Haslam will have to step up his game in the final rounds if he wants to pose a significant threat to Biaggi and the championship.
 
Rea is another rider trying to put his foot in the door of the championship this year. With three wins and a handful of podiums the Honda rider trails Haslam by 70 points and has been keeping the frontrunners honest all year long. Rea has a strong record in Germany that includes winning Race 2 at the 'Ring last year.
 
Perhaps receiving the most attention after his double victory in Great Britain is Crutchlow, who moved up to fifth in the championship ahead of his Yamaha teammate, James Toseland. Crutchlow carries the knowledge that his current Yamaha machine was previously taken to a victory at Nurburgring last year with Ben Spies at the helm.
 
"Silverstone was an incredible experience for me," said Crutchlow. “I believe we can go on and repeat the success at the following three rounds."
 
Toseland also can’t be discounted considering his record of two World Superbike Championships and his sixth-place standing in the 2010 series. Despite this he’s had a rocky season with ups and downs, and is still tracking down his first victory of the season.

Japanese rider Noriyuki Haga is one rider looking to rebound after his most recent performance at Silverstone, which saw the Xerox Ducati rider take two finishes outside the top-10. Ranked seventh in the championship, Haga has had a difficult season and is looking forward to a circuit where he’s experienced solid results at in the past. In 2008 Haga clenched the double win at the German circuit, and in 2009 he followed this success with a podium finish in Race 1.

“I had a great time here [Nurburgring] in 2008,” said Haga. “I took the double win despite some terrible conditions that messed up the smooth running of race day, but then last season didn’t go to plan as I started in pole but crashed out of Race 2 in a race I was sure I could have won. The problem at the Nurburgring is that no one can predict the conditions – we’ve seen the sun come out just minutes after a hail shower, so mixed conditions like those make it hard to prepare for race day.”
 
Haga’s teammate, Michel Fabrizio, is a bit further back in the series in ninth-place. Only four points separate him from Camier in eighth, so Fabrizio will be looking for a strong showing in Germany in order to make up points and jump ahead in the series.
 
“I was disappointed to miss out on the podium at Silverstone so I’ll be trying my best to get there at the Nurburgring,” Fabrizio said. “I really like the track but haven’t managed to reach the podium before. Anyway, we’ll be looking to take as many points as possible, and I’ll have my eyes on a top three finish.”
 
Supersport

In the Supersport class Ten Kate Honda’s Kenan Sofuoglu only has one rider posing a significant threat to the championship, and that’s Parkalgar Honda’s Eugene Laverty. In the last round at Silverstone Laverty took his sixth win of the season and moved to within 17 points of his rival and current leader in the series, Sofuoglu.

One rider who won’t be entering the mix this weekend is Kawasaki motocard.com’s Joan Lascorz. The Kawasaki racer suffered a major crash in the last round at Silverstone, colliding with Yamaha rider Roberto Tamburini and sustaining multiple injuries. ParkinGO Triumph BE-1’s Chaz Davies is fourth in the Supersport championship behind Lascorz and needs 42 points to climb into third. In fifth-place is Intermoto Czech Honda’s Gino Rea, who scored his first podium at Silverstone.