From a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

HM Plant Ducati returns to Europe

This weekend the Superbike World Championship returns to Europe – and Monza in Italy – for the fourth round of the Ducati-dominated series. The ultra-fast circuit near Milan is also close to Ducati’s factory and HQ at Bologna, so the Fila Ducati and HM Plant Ducati teams are set to continue their impressive start to the season.

The first six races of the championship have been won by former HM Plant Ducati star Neil Hodgson but former team-mate James Toseland and 2003 signing Chris Walker have already shown what they are capable of on the 998 F02 factory machines. Both riders have finished on the podium this season, with Toseland repeating this feat at the last round in Sugo, Japan.

“Sugo was good to me,” said Toseland, “but that’s not to say I’ll be taking anything for granted at Monza. I ran well there last year and adapted myself to the tactics of slipstreaming around the fastest circuit on the World Superbike calendar. The HM Plant Ducati team is in good shape for the weekend and I’ll be giving it everything to finish on the podium once again. To do this, I need to qualify and start each race well so that I can get away with the leaders – anything can happen after that.”

Walker had an unfortunate Japanese round and was involved in three crashes that left him with two injured feet. He high-sided during final qualifying and low-sided in the second race – and was taken out of race one in a multiple bike pile-up. The incident-packed event left him with a cracked bone in his right foot to go with the little toe he had broken on his left foot the day before!

“The injuries have healed well,” said Walker, “and I am on the road to a full recovery. I am eager to get my second World Superbike season back on track after two non-finishes at Sugo. Monza is a fantastic circuit and I am looking forward to attacking it on the HM Plant Ducati. The team has gone well in the past and I’m confident that I can carry on where Neil and James left off last season.”