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World Superbike
WSBK: Top 10 Riders Of 2012
Rounding off a legendary career with one final world title triumph is no guarantee of earning #1 on this list…
(Photo: Kawasaki Racing)
Who were the top ten riders this year in the Superbike World Championship according to SPEED.com? Read on…
10. Loris Baz
Lanky teenager Loris Baz was thrown into the deep end and in most difficult circumstances when he was called to stand in for Joan Lascorz following the Spaniard's devastating injuries. However, the Frenchman swam instead of sunk, scoring a win, a runner-up, and third-place result during his abbreviated campaiogn. The 19-year-old now stands as the second youngest winner in the history of the Superbike World Championship (wild card Yuichi Takeda won at Sugo in '96 while just 18).
9. Leon Haslam
Leon Haslam picked up five podiums aboard the works BMW effort in 2012 but was vastly outperformed by teammate, Marco Melandri, who displaced him as team leader. Haslam will look to regroup as he moves over to Ten Kate's PATA Honda squad next season.
8. Chaz Davies
Chaz Davies was named SPEED.com Rookie of the Year due to his four podium, one win season aboard a satellite Aprilia RSV4. The '11 World Supersport champ earned himself a slot in Haslam's vacated seat with BMW, and now it'll be the Welshman's task to keep pace with the super-talented Melandri.
7. Eugene Laverty
Eugene Laverty registered six podiums and one win, but like Haslam, his year was something of a disappointment when viewed in relation to that of his championship-winning teammate. More was expected from Laverty in '12, and even more will be demanded in '13 as Max Biaggi exits from the Aprilia team following his retirement.
6. Sylvain Guintoli
What a strange year it was for Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli. He earned the first win for himself and the Effenbert-Liberty Racing team at Assen but found himself at Brno with no mechanics (who were apparently on strike due to non-payment issues). Guintoli subsequently resigned from the team, and the Effenberty-Liberty squad issues a press release, blaming Guintoli for their problems due to 'poor results' and related decreased sponsor investment (never mind Sylvain's win or the fact that he was outperforming teammate Jakub Smrz (who was later dismissed from the team himself)). Guintoli quickly found himself a landing spot on another customer Ducati with the PATA outfit, where he promptly won in his debut and then picked up yet another win before the year was out. Guintoli appeared set to rejoin the Crescent Suzuki squad he once raced for in British Superbike competition, but asked for a release from his newly-inked contract (which prompted yet another angry press release) in order to hook up with Aprilia, where he'll battle with Laverty for team supremacy.
10. Loris Baz
Lanky teenager Loris Baz was thrown into the deep end and in most difficult circumstances when he was called to stand in for Joan Lascorz following the Spaniard's devastating injuries. However, the Frenchman swam instead of sunk, scoring a win, a runner-up, and third-place result during his abbreviated campaiogn. The 19-year-old now stands as the second youngest winner in the history of the Superbike World Championship (wild card Yuichi Takeda won at Sugo in '96 while just 18).
9. Leon Haslam
Leon Haslam picked up five podiums aboard the works BMW effort in 2012 but was vastly outperformed by teammate, Marco Melandri, who displaced him as team leader. Haslam will look to regroup as he moves over to Ten Kate's PATA Honda squad next season.
8. Chaz Davies
Chaz Davies was named SPEED.com Rookie of the Year due to his four podium, one win season aboard a satellite Aprilia RSV4. The '11 World Supersport champ earned himself a slot in Haslam's vacated seat with BMW, and now it'll be the Welshman's task to keep pace with the super-talented Melandri.
7. Eugene Laverty
Eugene Laverty registered six podiums and one win, but like Haslam, his year was something of a disappointment when viewed in relation to that of his championship-winning teammate. More was expected from Laverty in '12, and even more will be demanded in '13 as Max Biaggi exits from the Aprilia team following his retirement.
6. Sylvain Guintoli
What a strange year it was for Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli. He earned the first win for himself and the Effenbert-Liberty Racing team at Assen but found himself at Brno with no mechanics (who were apparently on strike due to non-payment issues). Guintoli subsequently resigned from the team, and the Effenberty-Liberty squad issues a press release, blaming Guintoli for their problems due to 'poor results' and related decreased sponsor investment (never mind Sylvain's win or the fact that he was outperforming teammate Jakub Smrz (who was later dismissed from the team himself)). Guintoli quickly found himself a landing spot on another customer Ducati with the PATA outfit, where he promptly won in his debut and then picked up yet another win before the year was out. Guintoli appeared set to rejoin the Crescent Suzuki squad he once raced for in British Superbike competition, but asked for a release from his newly-inked contract (which prompted yet another angry press release) in order to hook up with Aprilia, where he'll battle with Laverty for team supremacy.
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