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SBK is a go: Kawasaki against Ducati, with Aprilia close behind

THE ANALYSIS - Just a few days before the championship kicks off, we take a close look at the bikes and riders

SBK: SBK is a go: Kawasaki against Ducati, with Aprilia close behind

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The wait is almost over, on Friday at Phillip Island, while it's still the middle of the night in Italy, the curtain will go up on the SBK championship. After the recent tests, teas now need to buckle down, as there's no room for excuses. The first round in Australian will serve as a test bench for everyone, the litmus paper for the work done over the winter, both for the bikes and the riders.

In recent years, the championship has taken on a green hue, but the reds are keen to fight back. Taking on the world champ pairing of Rea-Sykes, Ducati lines up with sure thing Davies and 'wildcard' Melandri but the rest of the field is not to be underestimated either.

Starting with Honda, with two big names in the shape of Hayden and Bradl, an important sponsor and a new bike, albeit still 'immature'. The Aprilia RSV4RF is a tried and tested project but the team can now count on the experience Laverty and the freshness of Savadori.
One step back is Yamaha that, in its second year, still need to achieve any significant results. BMW is also looking to grow, with all the tools it needs to be able to do just that.
 

Ready? Let's look at the strengths and weaknesses of the main players.

KAWASAKI: THE FAVOURITE - Having dominated the last two championships, all the signs are there. The bike doesn't appear to have any weak points. The grip and acceleration of the ZX-10R represent an extra weapon for Johnny Rea and Tom Sykes, and the bike is clearly ready to take the starring role once more.

JOHNNY REA: As revealed a few days ago, he's chasing a dream, or rather his third world title. The road may already seem to be mapped out for him, particularly after his performance during testing. The Northern Irishman showed his stuff on day two, particularly in terms of race pace, lapping in the low 1’31s. His rivals have been warned.  

TOM SYKES : In 2016 he kept the title fight going right until the final round of Losail. The Brit now aims to break his team-mate's trend. During testing at Phillip Island he kept his cards close to his chest, but he won't be holding back come Saturday.

DUCATI: DREAMING BIG - The final part of last season can only serve as a confidence boost, because the Panigale has proved how much it has grown. The red bike is agile and handles well, particularly through the turns. The only possible issue is the lack of top speed, where they need a few more km/h..

CHAZ DAVIES: He is undoubtedly Johnny Rea's direct rival when it comes to the title fight, the last races of 2016 leave little doubt. He needs to be consistent, particularly early on in the championship. Casey Stoner was clear when he advised him to “race the first part of the season with your head, the second with your heart”.

MARCO MELANDRI: the return that everyone was waiting for. He may not be among the favourites for the title, but the Italian could definitely prove to be loose cannon. The final pre-season test saw him place among the leader, just 0.030 of a second behind Rea. He likes the Phillip Island track, and it would be a mistake to underestimate him.

HONDA: NEW BIKE, OLD PROBLEMS - The Fireblade SP2 was highly anticipated, but it seems that Hayden and Bradl are in a race against time. The new Red Bull livery might have made an impression, the competitiveness of the bike less so, still far from initial expectations. The electronics raises doubts, as does the power. Perhaps the music will change once in Europe.

NICKY HAYDEN:  He's not short on talent, the American's race history speaks volumes about his value. The team needs to take a step in the right direction as soon as possible, because it's a real pity to see a rider of this calibre so far off the pace.

STEFAN BRADL: A new entry. The German debuts in the production-derived series, with the enthusiasm of a kid on the first day of the holidays. The new bike has already extinguished some of the excitement, but he has no intentions of giving up.

YAMAHA: GREAT EXPECTATIONS - This is its second year since returning to the championship and everyone's waiting for that jump forward, the podium in other words. What Guintoli achieved last October at Losail. The R1 has grown, especially in terms of grip and corner exit. Will this be enough to reach its goal?

ALEX LOWES: He has totally reinvented his work method for the Yamaha, putting the stopwatch to one side and focusing on race pace. In the past, he's paid dearly for his mistakes, but it appears he's also learned from them.

MICHAEL VAN DER MARK: He takes up the baton left by Sylvain Guintoli. The spotlight is on the flying Dutchman, called upon to take that step forward that everyone's waiting for. Dosoli didn't mince his word: Michael could be that charismatic figure that Superbike needs. now it's up to him to prove this.
 
APRILIA: THE OUTSIDER - The Noale manufacturer embarks on a new adventure with Milwaukee. The RSV4 RF has taken giant steps forward, especially in terms of engine power and its precision in holding the lines at high speed, beginning to reduce the gap to the Kawasakis and Ducatis. If this wasn't enough, the return of a rider as talented as Laverty, alongside Savadori, could be a winning combination.  

LORENZO SAVADORI: He grew throughout his apprenticeship year and now the hopes of the Italian fans rest on his shoulders. The bike is no longer a secret to him and he's sure he can power it to the top. How can we disagree after what we've seen in the recent tests? 
 
EUGENE LAVERTY: 2017 is the year of the comeback. He too lines up this year and what better track to start at than Phillip Island. He has won at the Australian track with Honda, Aprilia and Suzuki. We're sure he doesn't plan to stop now.

BMW: EN-ROUTE TO THE PODIUM - Step by step, but the road ahead still seems long, despite the bike having become more reliable. Nothing new for Genesio Bevilacqua's team with the renewal of the Torres-Reiterberger pairing. De Rosa also deserved a chance, Stock1000 winner in 2016. But then as we know, motorsport is also business.

JORDI TORRES: The Spaniard chases his first BMW podium this year, but it won't be that easy, because the competition is more battle ready than ever. He hasn't finished in the top three since Losail in 2015. Now is the time to break this fast.  
 
MARKUS REITERBERGER: He's one of the most promising riders, and after a 2016 that saw him spend a lot of time in the garage following injury at Misano, he is confident and motivated as he takes to the starting blocks. Will motivation be enough?

Translated by Heather Watson
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