subject: A Brief Yet Informative Look At The Teams In The 2010 Superbike World Championship [print this page] In the 2010 SBK season, there are 7 individual teams from 3 countries competing, with each and every one of them having at least two riders in the event.
In order of their ranking after the third race of the season at Valencia in Spain on 11 April, the following information should provide a small insight into the teams that are competing in the Superbike World Championship in 2010.
1. Suzuki. Coming first or second in five of the six races (when counting the 2 races that happen at each actual track), Suzuki are 15 points clear of second place Ducati. Having both Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli riding for them, Suzuki are looking to take home their second manufacturer's title since their first win in 2005.
2. Ducati. By far the most popular name in SBK, in the 23 years that the Superbike World Championship has been running, Ducati have taken home 16 of the 22 possible manufacturer's titles and have had one of their riders win the championship 13 times, most recently with Troy Bayliss in the 2008 season.
3. Aprilia. Not winning any rider's or manufacturer's titles in the SBK, Aprilia have always been a manufacturer who just haven't be able to break through into pole position. According to data provided by the official World Superbike Championship website, in the manufacturer's rankings Aprilia finished fourth in 2009, third in 2002 and third in 2001 (they did not compete from 2003 to 2008).
4. Honda. With five riders on their books this season, Honda stand a great chance of going away with something from the 2010 SBK. Jonathan Rea, Max Neukirchner, Josh Brookes, Vittorio Iannuzzo and Sheridan Morais are all riding for Honda this season.
In the early years of the SBK, Honda dominated the manufacturer's titles, winning the first 3 in 1988, 1989 and 1990, as well as their fourth - and last - in 1997.
5. Yamaha. Entering 2 riders into this year's event, Brit's James Toseland and Cal Crutchlow, neither made an impact on the first track of the season in Australia as both of them did not finish race 1 and came in tenth and ninth respectively in race 2.
Things have picked up, however and in race 2 in Portimao, Portugal, Cal Crutchlow gained a podium finish and in race 1 in Valencia, Spain, James Toseland achieved the same feat.
6. BMW. Not winning any manufacturer's or rider's titles, it is to be expected from BMW as the 2010 season is only their second time they have entered the event. Starting in 2009 by getting racing bike insurance for Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus, the 2010 championship sees them enter three additional riders alongside Corser and Xaus - Andrew Pitt, Roland Resch and Makoto Tamada.
7. Kawasaki. Having won only one title since 1988, which was the 1993 rider's title when Scott Russell beat Carl Fogarty to first position with 378.5 points compared to Fogarty's 349.5, Kawasaki are hoping for their first victory in 17 years. Putting their faith in Tom Sykes, Roger Hayden, Matteo Baiocco, Simon Andrews and Chris Vermuelen, 2010 could very well be the year for Kawasaki.
