From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

SBK PACK HEADS FOR SILVERSTONE

Super Silverstone: Having been used for motor racing of all forms since the end of World War Two Silverstone plays host to the World Superbike Championship for the third time this weekend. One of the best-attended and most eagerly anticipated events of the year, Silverstone is the first of two British rounds on the 2004 calendar. The Northamptonshire circuit offers a unique blend of fast and slow corners, but a high average speed shows that pace and power are two key features required for any aspirant race winner.

Mix and Match: After the continual twists and turns of the previous Oschersleben SBK race, which delivered wins to Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati) and Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila) the Silverstone event is one where slipstreaming and the prospect of multi-rider battles for the lead are a more than reasonable expectation. Last year up to ten riders, both regulars and local wild cards, were involved in the fight for the race lead at Silverstone, and with an evening-out of the competition this season, thanks to the adoption of new technical rules and a single make Pirelli control tyre choice, similar scope exists for handlebar-to-handlebar combat in the 2004 races.

First Timers: With none of the current SBK competitors having tasted victory champagne at the Northamptonshire venue in SBK before the motivation to win is even stronger than usual. If the most recent trends come to the fore once again then the rider with the most wins this season, Laconi, will be in with the best chance of victory. His team-mate in the Ducati Fila line up, James Toseland, nonetheless leads the world championship fight, by only a couple of points from Laconi. Toseland is the best chance of success for the local British crowd, and as such will be cheered all the way by his compatriots.

Chili Charge Continues: The PSG-1 998RS of Pierfrancesco Chili, fitted with a 999-spec engine, has been a regular sight in the upper reaches of the grid and points table this season. Despite some notable DNFs, including one at Oschersleben, the 39-year-old Chili is still in a firm third in the overall standings, and is expected to bring his usual mix of fan-support and fierce speed to the fray. Not bad for a man who will turn 40-later this month.

Renegade Return: After success in the British Championships stimulated the global ambitions of the Renegade Ducati Team, they now return to their point of origin with one local and one overseas rider in their line-up, riding Ducati 999RS twins. British fans will need no re-introduction to Noriyuki Haga, as the Japanese rider has been a frequent visitor to their shores in SBK guise, and has won two races this season so far. His team-mate is no less well known, Leon Haslam not just being a fierce and rapidly developing Superbike talent in his own right but the son of local hero Ron Haslam.

Dutch Sunshine: The new technical rules have levelled the playing field of SBK racing this season, and with a new generation of SBK-eligible four-cylinder 1000cc machines emanating from Japan the most successful so far has entered combat with Chris Vermeulen in the saddle. His mount, the mighty Honda CBR1000RR, has already secured podium finishes for Vermeulen and at a horsepower circuit like Silverstone, he will also be in good shape for a good weekend in front of his adopted British crowd. The ever-more competitive Bertocchi Kawasaki team, plus the challenges of the MIR Suzuki and UnionBike Yamaha teams provide more flavour for the SBK mix, with the high-speed nature of Silverstone a benefit to all riders of multi-cylinder machines.

Home Again: SBK stars don’t come much bigger than those in the Malaysian backed, British based, Foggy Petronas Team, with factory pilots Troy Corser and Chris Walker each expected to receive significant support from the British Legions on raceday. Corser, the 1996 World Champion, has taken a second place race finish this year; four-time British Championship runner-up Walker has also scored a podium finish of third at Valencia. Walker, arguably the most popular British Superbike rider to enter SBK since team owner Carl Fogarty hung up his leathers in 2000, may not be able to count on any horsepower advantage over his opposition, but with the crowd behind him he will carry an extra impetus of a different kind.

Copy That: Garry McCoy (Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks 999RS) is another privately entered rider to have scored a win this season, joining Laconi, Toseland, Haga and Chili in that plateau of success. Having a rollercoaster year so far McCoy will be looking for some consistently fast laps to improve his championship position into the top three.

Special DFX: The DFX Ducati Sterilgarda machine of Steve Martin has allowed the Aussie privateer to show his real prowess this year. Teamed up with Marco Borciani, Martin has endured some misfortune in race situations thus far, despite enjoying some podium success.

Supersport: After much discussion and consultation of the rules and regulations the World Supersport competitors will all be hoping for a less dramatic conclusion to the end of raceday at Silverstone. Long time championship leader Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Italia) leads the title charge but an entire phalanx of fast riders are capable of winning races. Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda) is one of the those riders hoping to be reinstated to the Oschersleben results after an exclusion, as is his team-mate Broc Parkes and Klaffi Honda rider Sebastien Charpentier. For Suzuki, the impressive Alstare Suzuki team includes the 1999 World Champion Stephane Chambon, plus Japanese ace Katsuaki Fujiwara. Ducati’s official team is represented by Lorenzo Lanzi, on the Breil 749R.


More, from another press release issued by FGSport Group:

HISTORIC 400th RACE AT SILVERSTONE WORLD SUPERBIKE ROUND

The round of the Superbike World Championship at Silverstone this week is on track to be an historic event. Race 2 on Sunday 13th June will be the 400th World Superbike race to be held since the Championship started in 1988 and ironically the very first round took place in the UK too.

The first World Superbike event took place at Donington Park in April 1988 and the first race there was won by Italian rider Davide Tadozzi, who is today manager of the Ducati Fila World Superbike Championship-leading team, but then riding a Bimota. Honda rider Fred Merkel from the USA was to be the first Champion that year. Donington continued to be a venue for the British round, being joined by Brands Hatch in 1993, until 2001 when it was replaced by Silverstone as the preferred venue in 2002. Although the 400th race will take place at Silverstone, this will not be the 200th round as at two rounds, Le Mans 1988 and Philip Island 2001, only one race was held at each. Thus Oschersleben last month had the honour of hosting the 200th round.

Over the 17 years of the world championship, rounds of SBK have been held at 39 different circuits in 20 countries. Of those circuits Sugo, Japan has held most races with a total of 16, second place goes to Donington, UK with 15, third place, with a total of 14, is a tie between Phillip Island in Australia and Misano, San Marino. Monza comes fifth with 13 and Hockenheim sixth with 12 races run there.

“The Superbike World Championship has always run on the most prestigious circuits. Furthermore, we have developed very worthwhile long-term relationships with many top circuits around the world and this has contributed to the overall success of the Championship since its inception,” said FGSPORT CEO, Paolo Flammini.