As the World Superbike and World Supersport teams leave behind the fly-away sector of the season, the much-used testing circuit of Valencia adopts the guise of full-on race venue once more. Starting a run of ten gruelling Euro based races, the Spanish round of the series may also offer some respite from the series of weather interruptions which have afflicted the season so far. The stadium style circuit of Valencia places particular strain on the left side of tyres thanks to the frequent low gear turns and lots of time spent at high lean angles. With three additional classes joining the championship this weekend, two all-new ones for the 2005 season, the 86 riders in the 2004 paddock have now grown to 156, stepping up the technical and logistical challenge for Pirelli to another level. The dominance shown thus far by Suzuki is expected to be challenged much more strongly, by high class entries from other four-cylinder manufacturers Yamaha, Honda, and Kawasaki, plus twin-cylinder kings Ducati and the three-cylinder runners Petronas. A podium finish in Australia by class rookie Max Neukirchner Honda) , has shown that the level playing filed offered by the adoption of high quality control tyres from Pirelli allows new talent to shine through. The close nature of the competition, through out the field is testimony to the effort put in by Pirelli, the scale of operations a testimony to the commitment of the entire Pirelli brand. In World Supersport the other protagonists will be trying to take a win away from Winston Ten Kate Team, as Sebastien Charpentier found the Pirelli’s new front tyre the perfect partner for his all-new front end suspension package in Australia. There are no less than three new classes to see at Valencia. The Superstock series, running since 1999, is once more aimed at the younger rider, but this year the monotyre series has been promoted to FIM World Cup status, and has seen the minimum age raised to 20. This has allowed the formation of a 600cc version, the Superstock 600 European Championship. This new initiative, on very stock machinery to reduce costs and performance parameters, will field riders between 15 and 20 years of age. The 1000cc Superstock category will run on Pirelli Dragon SuperCorsa tyres, like the Supersport class, with the 600cc version on Diablo Corsa tyres; racing street tyres to allow to these new young riders to face the challenges of a tough and competitive championship. This entry level championship features non-extreme machinery, making the Diablo Corsa tyres the perfect fitment. In addition to these new series, which will feature at five rounds of the main Superbike circus from now on, Valencia will host a Suzuki GSX-R European Cup 2005 race. This is an invitational category, featuring identically prepared GSX-R750s, supplied and maintained by Alstare. Looked after by Fabrizio Pirovano, the machines in the series will be liveried in the national colours of the riders, of which there will be 27, 22 permanent plus wildcards. The identical machines will feature Pirelli Diablo Corsa tyres on the rims. The same tyres you can fit on this bike to enjoy riding every day or on track days with your friends. Pirelli staff will enter the Valencia race celebrating the success of their products under the extreme conditions encountered by the GMT Yamaha squad of William Costes, Sebastien Gimbert and David Checa, victorious in the classic 24-Heures Du Mans endurance race on Pirelli tyres. Gimbert, now an SBK regular will be in attendance as usual in Spain, but adding to the mix will be the fulsome talents of Checa, riding as a wildcard and adding even more talent to an already high-quality grid. Last season results: Superpole: Laconi 1:33.427 Gara 1: Laconi, Vermeulen, Toseland Gara 2: McCoy, Vermeulen, Chili Superpole: Laconi 1:33.427 Gara 1: Laconi, Vermeulen, Toseland Gara 2: McCoy, Vermeulen, Chili More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group: LAUNCH OF THE SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Following on from the great success of the European Superstock Championship, FGSport will be unveiling another category aimed at younger riders, the Superstock 600 European Championship. This exciting new series will be run at all European rounds of the Superbike World Championship, with the inaugural round taking place at Valencia, Spain this coming weekend, April 22-23-24. The European Superstock Championship will feature the follow key elements.  Age Limits: Open to all qualifying riders from 15 to 20 years of age riders born not before the 1st of January 1985 and not after the 15th of April 1990.  Regulations: Features comparable technical regulations to those of the highly successful and affordable European Superstock class which itself continues as the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup. The regulations will be available on line soon at: www.uem-online.org;  Bike: 600cc 4-cylinder or 750 cc twin-cylinder engine configurations few modifications allowed to keep the bikes as standard as possible, reducing costs and limiting performance for safety reasons.  Tyres: Pirelli will be the single tyre supplier, continuing the visionary initiatives first introduced to the World Superbike and Supersport Championships, and the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup.  Calendar and Schedule: Rounds will be held alongside the European events on the 2005 Superbike World Championship calendar and each race will be on Saturday. This is the schedule: Friday TIMING CATEGORY PROGRAM 11.45-12.15 (30 MINS) SUPERSTOCK 600 FREE PRACTICE 16.30-17.00 (30 MINS) SUPERSTOCK 600 QUALIFYING PRACTICE Saturday TIMING CATEGORY PROGRAM 12.15-12.45 (30 MINS) SUPERSTOCK 600 QUALIFYING PRACTICE 17.40 SUPERSTOCK 600 RACE ( 11 LAPS KM.44.055)  Starting Grid: The starting grid will be made of 30 permanent riders and eight Wild Card riders. Of the eight Wild Card riders, six will be nominated by the National Federation of the country where the event will take place, while the remaining two by the UEM or FGSPORT;  Selection Criteria: The Teams will be selected based on certain criteria: such as the rider’s or the Team’s CV. FGSPORT will try to maintain an adequate balance between the nationalities of the riders.