WSBK – Mondial SBK 2010: on your marks! – Kawasaki

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Mondial SBK 2010: on your marks !

WSBK - Mondial SBK 2010: on your marks! - Kawasaki

The 2010 World Superbike season opens in two weeks at Phillip Island: Ben Spies having yielded to the sirens of MotoGP, he gives up his SBK throne to whoever wants … No Troy Bayliss in sight either? The way is therefore clear, but for whom ? Forecast.

Kawasaki

Finally, Kawasaki will try to get out of its bad – and long – pass thanks to its two new official riders: Tom Sykes and Chris Vermeulen! Fast and consistent riders who should allow the Ninjas to score more points than last year: 67 overall against 126 for BMW, 167 for Suz ‘, 303 for Aprilia, 395 for Honda, 469 for Yam’ and 534 for Ducat ‘.

Faithful to his No. 66, Tom Sykes could well be reborn this season: crushed by Ben Spies at Yamaha last year, the British rider achieved a discreet but not ridiculous 2009 year: in the Top 10 a large part of the season, he finished in 8th place overall.

However, we must recognize that the hopes of the Greens are based more in this pre-season on his illustrious teammate: Chris Vermeulen. Supersport World Champion with Ten Kate – who else? – in 2003, the Australian wrote some of the most beautiful pages of modern Superbike, thanks to his riding style while gliding.

A style that unfortunately did not allow the sympathetic "Vermin" to win in MotoGP: apart from his victory in the Le Mans rain, 3 other podiums and 3 poles, Chris had to be content for four years to play the supporting roles for Suzuki.

On the other hand, his record in the World Superbike is much more extensive: in only 45 races, Vermeulen has managed to climb 23 times on the podium, including 10 times on the highest step, and to sign 7 lap records in the race and 3 poles. Thus, this small jackpot allowed him to obtain 4th place in the general classification in 2004, and 2nd in 2005 !

It’s hard to comment on the chances that Sykes and Vermeulen (but also Roger Lee Hayden, Nicky’s little brother, and Matteo Baiocco, both members of the Pedercini team) will have to win this season … The ZX-10R will have changed correctly this winter? And what about the competition? Only the first race, in Australia at Chris, will provide an element of the answer … See you at Phillip Island on Sunday February 28 !

Kawasaki teams

Kawasaki WSBK Racing Team
Tom Sykes # 66
Chris Vermeulen # 77

Team Pedercini
Matteo Baiocco # 15
Roger Lee Hayden # 95

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