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WSBK: Spies Heads Exciting ‘09 Rookie List
Written by: Dennis Noyes   
10/03/2008
Magny-Cours, France
 
(Photo: Honda Pro Images) ยป More Photos

Troy Bayliss should clinch the 2008 World Superbike Championship this weekend on his factory Xerox Ducati 1098. The 39-year-old Australian needs only 21 points here to assure his third title even if Troy Corser, currently second, wins both races. Noriyuki Haga also has a remote mathematical option, but only if Bayliss scores only 11 points of a possible 100 over the final four races.

So, barring some kind of catastrophe, this year will see Troy Bayliss taking his third and last World Superbike title, and attention is already turning to the exciting prospects for 2009.

Here are the latest signings for the major teams in what promises to be one of the most promising and unpredictable Superbike World Championships in the history of the series.

Ducati Xerox: Noriyuki Haga, Michel Fabrizio
Ten Kate Honda: Carlos Checa, Ryuichi Kiyonari, Jonathan Rea
Yamaha Motor Italia: Ben Spies, Tom Sykes
PSG-1 Kawasaki: No one signed yet. Ayrton Badovini is probable. Regis Laconi looking to leave. Makoto Tamada might return.
Suzuki Alstare: Max Neukirchner, Yukio Kagayama (Possible third bike for Fonsi Nieto or Xavier Simeon)
Sterilgarda Ducati: Shane Byrne, and second rider possibly Alessandro
Polita
BMW: Ruben Xaus, Troy Corser
Aprilia: Max Biaggi, second rider to be decided: Roberto Rolfo or Alex Debón.
D.F.X. Honda: Probable: Karl Muggeridge and a second rider.
GMT94 Yamaha: David Checa. This now looks like being a single-bike team.
Guandalini Racing Ducati: Jacob Smrz (possibly combining with Bolder Ducati and Jake Zemke, but nothing is confirmed at this time.)
Althea Honda: Tommy Hill and second rider
Stiggy Honda: Leon Haslam and probably Joshua Brookes
RG Ducati: Lorenzo Lanzi and possible second rider

Nothing is confirmed yet on the remaining teams: Yamaha France, Pedercini Kawasaki, PBR Vent-Taxia Honda, and Grillini Racing Yamaha.

Yamaha France tried to place Sylvain Guintoli with the factory Yamaha Motor Italia team, but when Spies was signed, that left Guintoli, who tested at Vallelunga and was 0.7 off Haga's best time, with no ride at present either in SBK or MotoGP. Another 'rider of interest' to Yamaha France is Regis Laconi. It is possible that Yamaha France will field a team for one or both of these potentially homeless Frenchmen, but times are hard, sponsors are disappearing or reducing their spending.


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