2013 World Superbikes provisional grid
Undoubtedly the man with the most desire to win this year will be Kawasaki Racing's Tom Sykes. After missing the 2012 title by a heartbreaking half a point, the Brit will be hungry for the championship in 2013. The Kawasaki ZX10R got better as the 2012 season went on, so if that improvement continues, Sykes should be prominent at the top end of the championship table. Sykes' team mate Loris Baz showed form in wet races last year, so needs to step up and prove his pace in the dry in 2013.
2011 SBK champion Carlos Checa can't be ruled out as a contender either, especially when you factor in that the successful Alstare team (who won the 2005 championship with Troy Corser) will take over from Althea Racing and run the Ducati 1199 Panigale this season. Expect the Spanish veteran to snatch more than a few race wins, while new team mate Ayrton Badovini may be a surprise packet, too.
Sylvain Guintoli will be another rider to watch in 2013, as he secures a factory SBK ride for the first time. The Frenchman won three races and secured four more podiums on satellite Ducatis in a tumultuous 2012 that saw him switch teams midway through the season, so the stability of the Aprilia Racing factory team should be welcome. Guintoli's team mate Eugene Laverty is reportedly very confident going into season 2013, with an RSV4 that the Irishman says is better suited to him and his riding style than the Biaggi-centric bike of 2012.
The experienced pairing of Leon Haslam and Jonathan Rea should deliver victories for the revitalised PATA-backed Honda World Superbike team. After securing only two race wins in 2012, Honda have committed to a comprehensive testing and development program in an effort to return to the winner's podium this season.
With no BMW factory squad this year, the Bavarian brand will be represented by the BMW GoldBet Italia team. Last year's star for BMW, Marco Melandri finfished third in the 2102 championship, and should figure prominently on the podium this season, despite being on a satellite machine. The Italian will partner Chaz Davies, who has switched from the ParkinGO MTC Aprilia team for his second season in World Superbikes.
Following the departure of Carlos Checa, Althea Racing will be a one-rider team for 2013, retaining Davide Giugliano. Althea will also run an Aprilia this year, instead of Ducati's 1098. Michel Fabrizio has switched from BMW GoldBet Italia to the Red Devils Roma Aprilia satellite squad, while Germany's Max Neukirchner returns to Superbikes on a satellite Ducati after a stint in Moto2 last year.
The only new boy in the field this year is Jules Cluzel. The Frenchman impressed in World Supersport last year, winning four races on the PTR Honda CBR 600RR, so is no doubt hoping to do well in his rookie Superbike year alongside Leon Camier in the FIXI Crescent Suzuki team.
Disappointingly, there are no Aussies represented at this stage, but a late call-up or fill-in ride could see some home-grown talent in action. The grid features only sixteen riders at this stage, but the inclusion of some satellite squads, along with the Pedercini Kawasaki team (who have yet to announce their 2013 lineup), should bulk out the entry list.
2013 World Superbike Championship line-up (as of 2/1/2013)
Kawasaki Racing
Tom Sykes
Loris Baz
Alstare Ducati
Carlos Checa
Ayrton Badovini
Aprilia Racing
Eugene Laverty
Sylvain Guintoli
BMW GoldBet Italia
Marco Melandri
Chaz Davies
PATA Honda
Jonathan Rea
Leon Haslam
FIXI Crescent Suzuki
Leon Camier
Jules Cluzel
Red Devils Roma Aprilia
Michel Fabrizio
Althea Aprilia
Davide Giugliano
MR Ducati
Max Neukirchner
Grillini BMW
Vittorio Iannuzzo
