With the chance to win the 2010 championship on Sunday, Max Biaggi has all the motivation he needs.
Only two rounds remain the in 2010
World Superbike Championship, and action is becoming intense as riders desperately search for points. The Imola circuit in Italy has already played host to a chaotic qualifying session on Saturday that saw Tom Sykes score the first pole position for
Kawasaki in three years. Weather has also become an important factor in determining grid positions, and several top riders will face uphill battles in Sunday’s races. In order to clear some of the confusion we’ve compiled some helpful facts and things to keep in mind while making your last few
Fantasy Superbike Racing picks of the season.
SURE THINGS:
A-Riders
Max Biaggi - The Roman Emperor’s performance in the last few rounds hasn’t been much to look at, but with a season that reads like his, it’s better to bet on the safe side. Nine wins and four double-victories throughout 2010 is proof enough why first picks should be handed over to him and, although he’s struggled in the last two rounds, there’s a strong chance Biaggi may look to seal the championship on Sunday.
Leon Haslam - Biaggi’s closest competition in the series is Haslam. The Alstare
Suzuki rider already has a leg up on his rival for Sunday’s races after having secured a front row start in Saturday’s Superpole session. Haslam has not had nearly as many wins as Biaggi this year, but the Englishman is hoping his consistency over 11 rounds will pay off in the end. Haslam has had a total of three wins this season, his last coming at Kyalami in May.
Tom Sykes (center) scored his first Superpole of the season and secured a front row start at Imola
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Tom Sykes - Recently, the talk of the town has centered on Kawasaki’s Sykes, who grabbed his first Superpole of the season and gave Kawasaki its first in more than three years. While his impressive performance in qualifying may only have been due to the slick conditions, Sykes definitely deserves a second look for the upcoming races.
Troy Corser - Another rider who performed fairly well in Saturday’s difficult qualifying run was
BMW’s Corser. Placing sixth on the grid and landing a second row start alongside Biaggi, Corser has put himself into a fighting position at Imola. The recently re-signed Aussie trails Ducati’s Michel Fabrizio by only one point in the championship, so the upcoming races will be especially crucial for Corser if he wants to take a top-10 finish in 2010 series.
Team – Alitalia Aprilia
While Aprilia may be missing Leon Camier, the team remains strong with Biaggi at the helm and leading the crew to possibly another championship. With the team’s chance of success being so high, it’s hard not to see them as the first choice when it comes to team selection.
Ducati's Noriyuki Haga had a difficult qualifying session at Imola, but may still pose a threat on Sunday.
A-Riders
Noriyuki Haga - Ducati Xerox’s Haga is a definite maybe for this weekend. While he’s had some success this year, including his recent win at the Nurburgring circuit, the Japanese rider has also had some rough patches. His start at Imola is not looking so good – but neither is it for quite a few of the top-10 riders. Despite sitting 15th on the grid, Haga’s misfortune could have just been due to grip issues on the slippery circuit. Haga has a total of two wins this year and will be looking for a third to push him into the top-five in the championship ahead of Yamaha Sterigarda’s Cal Crutchlow.
B-Riders
Carlos Checa - Althea Racing’s Checa is one rider who looks to be in strong form for the Imola circuit. The Ducati rider secured the fastest lap in Friday’s qualifying session under dry conditions, outpacing
Honda’s Jonathan Rea by 0.380 seconds. The Spaniard is eager for his second win of the season, his first coming in the season opener at Phillip Island. Also, Checa will be riding as hard as possible as Crutchlow lurks just seven points behind in the standings.
SCRATCH:
Honda's Jonathan Rea may compete at Imola, but he will do so with a broken wrist and collarbone.
Aprilia’s Camier is passing on the Imola round to catch up on some recovery. The reigning British Superbike champ suffered a broken wrist in Germany, and recent surgery has forced him to take time off. It has not officially been decided if he will return for the final round at Magny-Cours, France.
Jonathan Rea - One rider who had an extremely difficult qualifying session at Imola on Saturday was Rea, who suffered a broken bone in his wrist and collarbone while competing on the slick track surface. Although he still wants to race and will be taking part in the morning warm-up tomorrow, it’s hard to see the Irishman performing well in his current condition. His courage for continuing is applauded, however, and we wish him the best.
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