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SBK, Phillip Island, where winning is a must, or almost...

In 16 of 29 seasons, the winner of the opening race has gone on to take the title, Rea is chasing a hat trick, but Melandri is lurking 

SBK: Phillip Island, where winning is a must, or almost...

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It's the classic season opener. For the ninth consecutive time, Phillip Island will host the inaugural World Superbike round. More WorldSBK races have taken place at this track than at any other, 51 to be precise. The Australian track first appeared on the calendar in 1990.

Local riders have managed to reach the highest step of the rostrum in 23 of the 51 races, the last to do so was Troy Bayliss in 2008 with a memorable double win. From that year onwards, riders from seven different nations have clocked up race wins, most recently Johnny Rea.

This time Marco Melandri is also on the starting line, ready to ruin the party for the British rider, who have won the last four races. Only the Australians have won more, with six consecutive wins, between Race 2 in 2004 and Race 1 in 2007 (Garry McCoy, 3 Troy Corser, 2 Troy Bayliss).

Australia might be the first round of the season and everyone wants to start out on the right foot of course, but here's an interesting fact for the superstitious... Throughout the history of the championship, in 16 of 29 seasons, the winner of the opening race went on to lift the trophy at the end of the season. Jonathan Rea did so last year, and the year before. So the numbers seem fairly clear.

Translated by Heather Watson
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