World Superbike Miller Preview 2011

World Superbike makes its annual pilgrimage to the U.S. this weekend at Miller Motorsports Park for Round 5 of the 2011 championship. The Utah circuit marks its fourth consecutive year hosting SBK, its Memorial Day Weekend schedule now an annual tradition. Unique on the SBK schedule, the American round bumps the regular Friday, Saturday, Sunday schedule an extra day – the doubleheader races commencing on the Monday holiday. The usual World Supersport support class will also be absent this time around. Instead AMA Pro Racing marks its return to MMP as undercard billing for the Big M Weekend. The AMA will run one race apiece in its four classes, including American SuperBike, Daytona SportBike and the Motorcycle Superstore SuperSport class. So it’s Miller time, but who’ll be celebrating on Monday?

Carlos Checa arrives the clear favorite. The Althea Ducati man is not only the championship points leader – he owns the Utah circuit. Claiming the double at the inaugural MMP WSB races in 2008, Checa scored a second-place podium in 2009. Of course, the Spaniard also crashed out of one race in 2009, and in 2010 he tallied a heartbreaking pair of DNFs – retiring from both races with mechanical issues while enjoying a handy lead… Did we say Checa is the clear favorite? Yes, we did, and we’re sticking to it. When Checa’s luck holds, none seem capable of matching him in the land of Zion.

Defending champ Max Biaggi looks to gain ground at Miller, a circuit he’s enjoyed success at in the past. The Emperor inherited the double at MMP last year thanks to Checa’s poor luck, a performance that netted not just two wins but also the 2010 points lead. In 2011, however, the Aprilia ace remains winless. Biaggi’s expected dominance last round at Monza was spoiled in Race 1 by impressive Yamaha rookie Eugene Laverty, who snatched the victory. Biaggi’s second Monza race was marred by a controversial ride-thru penalty, which interrupted an uncontested run to the checkers. Max’s RSV4 teammate, Leon Camier, is also one to watch in Utah - the former British Superbike champ recording his SBK best at MMP last season, with a second-place podium. Expect both factory Aprilia men to be pushing a podium pace on Monday.

Laverty rolls in with that two-race win streak to his credit, a serious confidence booster for the Irishman. MMP has a strange habit of awarding wins in pairs. All three SBK winners at the circuit did so two at a time: Checa doubling in ‘08, Ben Spies in ‘09 and Biaggi ’10. Laverty will be hard-pressed to repeat his performance, but the 24-year-old represents a formidable 1-2 punch from Yamaha alongside Marco Melandri (come to think of it, has there been a more potent all-rookie team?). Melandri, rests second in the points – 27 down on Checa and one up on Biaggi. Supermarco has four podiums and a win in his rookie campaign, and will get his first taste of the U.S. track on Saturday.

Fourth in the championship, Jonathan Rea is Honda’s best hope for the steps at MMP. The Castrol Honda rider is recovering from a lackluster round at Monza and didn’t light things up at Miller last season either, with a 14-8 byline and nasty get-off during the 2010 weekend. The Irishman may have a leg up this time around, however, as the team tapped Miller as a 2011 test track and ran some sessions earlier this week. The Ten Kate squad tested a new swingarm and suspension looking for improvement.

Another man who reckons an improvement from 2010 is Leon Haslam. MMP was a disaster for the British rider last season. Race 1 saw the then Alstare Suzuki man and championship points leader place second, but a lowside DNF in Race 2 relegated the points advantage to Biaggi. This season Haslam’s championship fortunes have dimmed to fifth overall, 61 points behind Checa. Scoring a podium last round at Monza was offset by a DNF and broken toe. At Miller, the Brit searches for that elusive first victory of the season and the first-ever SBK win for the BMW S1000RR.

There are others capable of the steps on Monday, including Noriyuki Haga (Aprilia PATA), who wrested a podium at MMP in 2010 with the Xerox Ducati. His then teammate, now Alstare Suzuki rider Michel Fabrizio has shown promising development in spite of being the lone GSX-R pilot on the grid. Former SBK champs Troy Corser and James Toseland will also be looking to surprise, both campaigning the S1000RR.

It there’s a dark horse contender, however, it’s Jakub Smrz. The Czech rider already owns a podium this season, the only privateer to find the steps in 2011 (Checa does not count…). Smrz also enjoyed a stellar outing at Miller last year, at least until the races that is... Smrz lead the Saturday timesheets in 2010, with a solid front-row grid position (fourth) in Superpole. Technical gremlins similar to Checa, however, doomed Smrz in both races. Both men’s luck couldn’t possibly be as foul this time around!

A notable absence this weekend will be Chris Vermeulen, the hard luck Aussie still recovering from injury. Sidelined most of his SBK return, Chris V’s tenure with Kawasaki continues to disappoint as he hurt his elbow in a crash at Monza. Carrying forth the ZX-10R charge will be up to Tom Sykes and Joan Lascorz.

Racing action begins with practice on Saturday and Motorcycle USA will be on scene. Stay appraised of all the SBK action, as well as the AMA Pro Racing, at www.motorcycle-usa.com and on the MotoUSA Twitter Feed.