RED 21 HOLDING ALL THE EUROSPEEDWAY LAUSITZ ACES Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) arrives in Germany in an enviable position in the championship chase, with a clear 100 point advantage over second place rider James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda), after the 2001 champion’s latest victory in race two at Assen last weekend. A short hop across Northern Europe now sees the entire championship decamped to Central Europe, close to the Polish border, at the magnificently appointed mega-venue of Eurospeedway Lausitz. The 4.265 kilometre circuit is ringed by a NASCAR style banked section, while a test track bisects the back straight, making Lausitz one of the most expansive and versatile circuits imaginable. THREE REMAINING ROUNDS STILL OFFER OPPORTUNITIES The hunt for Bayliss may have got all the harder after most of his immediate championship rivals endured tough weekends at Assen, but in the war for other championship positions, Assen’s results have pushed even more riders into the frame for top three finishes come season end, at Magny-Cours in France on October 8. Bayliss’ tenth win of the season came after Chris Walker (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) had scored his first race win of his entire SBK career in race one, making the Englishman the seventh rider in the top eight of the championship to have taken at least one race win in the 2006 season. At Lausitz, the possibilities of other riders notching up a victory are very much alive, despite Bayliss’ impressive record of scoring three wins in four attempts at the German track. The only other currently active SBK rider to win a race at Lausitz is none other than his 2006 team-mate, Ducati Xerox rider Lorenzo Lanzi, who took his first ever SBK victory at Lausitz in race two last year. HAGA AND TOSELAND SLUGGING MATCH ENTERS TENTH ROUND No one involved in SBK racing expects any drop off in the personal points battle between second placed Toseland perennial title challenger Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia). Each has scored one race win, eight podiums in total and are only separated by two points – with 150 still up for grabs for any rider who can win every remaining race. PITT ON AN UPSWING OF THE SEASON PENDULUM Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) was the top points scorer in the previous round at Lausitz and now sits in an enviable fourth place in the title chase, 33 points behind his team-mate Haga, but with a high confidence level being pushed along by the momentum of three podium finishes in a row, including two second places at Assen, each in vastly different conditions. At the tight Lausitz track all riders will face a very different challenge from the high speed G-force ride around some sections of Assen, but Pitt has proven nothing if not adaptable this year. As Pitt’s fortunes have swung upwards, Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) has found his season on a downward spiral since even before the mid-season break, having scored no podium places since Monza, way back in May. The 2005 champion provided the most consistent early season challenge to Bayliss but six DNFs in 18 races have had an obviously detrimental effect on his campaign, and he enters Lausitz fifth overall. BARROS LOOKS TO TESTING RESULTS IN HIS DESIRE FOR HIS FIRST WIN Alex Barros (Klaffi Honda) finds himself in an unusual situation on the entry to Lausitz, having carried out a successful test at the German circuit earlier in the year, posting competitive lap times on a machine which is now improved after some engine modifications before Assen. An unhappy Dutch weekend has not aided his Lausitz preparations, but the Brazilian star will once more be out to eradicate his record of being the only rider in the top eight to not have won at least one race so far. Riding for a German-speaking team, a win for Alex would be a popular outcome for both the German fans and neutrals alike. KAGAYAMA AND WALKER READY FOR MORE PODIUMS A sensational Brno meeting for Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) delivered him his first race wins in SBK this season, while a wet first race win for Chris Walker at Assen gave him his first ever SBK race win – in 133 attempts. Neither rider will be satisfied with their 2006 totals so far, and after Kagayama’s disappointing Assen weekend in general, and Walker’s troubles with an erroneously fitted rear tyre in race two at Assen, motivation to return to the top flight will be higher than ever. NIETO AND FABRIZIO OUT FOR MORE MEDALS AT EUROSPEEDWAY LAUSITZ Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) got his first chance to sit at the top table in SBK at Assen, by running out third in race two, after looking set for a podium in race one at one stage. A fantastic weekend for two of the three men in the PSG-1 team left multiple SBK race winner Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) out in the cold somewhat, giving him all the impetus he needs to get himself back into the top echelons again at Lausitz. Michel Fabrizio (DFX Treme Honda) has scored three podiums in the last six races, in his rookie SBK season, making him this year’s most impressive young strike in what is a rich seam of riding talent. XAUS ON THE UP IN FRONT OF IMPRESSIVE MIDFIELD SWELL A fine fifth place in race two at Assen was a season-best for Ruben Xaus (Ducati Sterilgarda Berik), who will be back in the same squad in 2007. Lausitz has been occasionally good to him in the past, and he hopes that his machinery will allow him to challenge once more, as he attempts break into the top ten at season’s end. Currently 12th, he leads a talented trio of Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France) Regis Laconi and Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda), which completes the top 15. ROLFO AND CO READY FOR GERMAN EXPEDITION Roberto Rolfo (Ducati SC Caracchi) has had an eventful rookie season so far, but the missing link has this been the fortune to have his machinery match his obvious talents at the right time and place. He is nonetheless fully 32 points ahead of his closest championship challenger, another rookie, Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha Motor France). Sebastien Gimbert, Nakatomi’s team-mate, injured his back in a crash at Assen, and is now almost certain to miss Lausitz. NEUKIRCHNER THE BIG DRAW FOR MANY GERMAN FANS Talented German rider Max Neukirchner (Alstare Engineering Suzuki) will have the best wishes of the large German crowd riding pillion with him at Lausitz, as he takes part in his second meeting with his new team. Sixth in race one at Assen, only a fall stopped his double points score, but at the very same Lausitz circuit he had his first shakedown laps at when he signed for Suzuki, much is expected. Neukirchner’s former Klaffi Honda team-mate Pierfrancesco Chili (DFX Honda) hopes to make Lausitz a high-point of his season so far and get back into the top 20 again. MARTIN AND BROOKES GO FOR AUSSIE PRIDE Steve Martin (Petronas FP-1) scored magnificent 12th and 11th place results at Assen, despite his power disadvantage on the 900cc triple, and another Aussie force, Josh Brookes (Bertocchi Kawasaki) earned his first point of the season, with a single for 15th in race two. Each is out for points again, while Martin’s team-mate Craig Jones (Petronas FP-1) is after his first points score of the year. SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP For the first time this year Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) enters a World Supersport event with a clear championship lead, after scoring second at Assen, as his main championship rival Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) was only fourth, giving Curtain a seven point advantage. Curtain will be without his team-mate Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany) who sustained three broken ribs and a punctured lung in a heavy crash at Assen last weekend. Fabien Foret will replace him for the German round. Robbin Harms (Stiggy Motorsports) has made himself a star this year with his consistently strong performances, but is still out for his first win. Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia) and Yoann Tiberio (Megabike Honda) were joined in their status as first full season race winners in Supersport by Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda). Sofuoglu spent much of his racing career in Germany and thus knows Lausitz well, making him another possible favourite for outright victory in Germany on Sunday. SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP Alessandro Polita (Celani Suzuki Italia) extended his advantage over Ayrton Badovini (Biassono Unionbike MV Agusta) after the recent Assen race but the battle for the title itself is still very much a three – and possibly a four – rider contest now, with Luca Scassa (EVR Corse Ormeni Racing) only two points behind Badovini, and Claudio Corti (Yamaha Team Italia) some 41 points behind the leader, with three unpredictable rounds to go. SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Xavier Simeon (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) had to give best to Niccolo Canepa (Ducati Xerox) at the most recent race of the exciting 600 Superstock year, but still enjoys a 34-point advantage over Canepa, with three rounds to run. Davide Giugliano (Lightspeed Kawasaki) is now most probably out of contention for the title itself, some 60 points behind Simeon. These top three riders have won every victory on offer this year, and on current form it is difficult to see who can upset the winning run of the big trio. ITALIAN AND FRENCH ROUNDS FINISH THE CHAMPIONSHIP TRAIL The final two rounds of the Superbike series take place at Imola on 1 October and Magny-Cours on 8 October, giving all the Lausitz competitors an opportunity for reflection and preparation as they look to an exciting end to the season.