AT VALENCIA ANOTHER SEASON BEGINS With the 2006 World Superbike season only completed a few weeks previously, the build up to the 2007 season begins in earnest at the Pirelli tests, Valencia, on 14 and 15 November. Nominated teams from each manufacturer, in both Superbike and Supersport classes, will be out to test the latest Pirelli tyre developments in order to choose the most suitable rubber to use when the season kicks off next year. SUPERBIKE TEAMS OUT FOR EARLY CONFIDENCE BOOSTERS As well as the primary job of tyre testing and set-up evaluation, the top riders in the Superbike class will be travelling to Valencia to set fast times in order to boost morale for their teams before the next set of Development Team tests, at Qatar on 19-21 December. The Ten Kate squad will represent Honda, with Roberto Rolfo once more testing for the team alongside the retained James Toseland – with each running ostensibly the same machines as Ten Kate campaigned during the 2006 season. Ducati will be represented by the championship-winning Ducati Xerox team (with Troy Bayliss and Lorenzo Lanzi in control) while the Kawasaki interest will be via the PSG-1 team, based in Italy. Fonsi Nieto and Regis Laconi are the PSG-1 pairing ready for action at Valencia. Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki, a team that has made a high profile signing in Max Biaggi recently, will also be in with the competition for the first time this winter. Recent All Japan Superbike race winner, and team regular, Yukio Kagayama, will join him. The factory Superbike collective is completed by the Yamaha Motor Italia squad, as Troy Corser makes his first real public debut for his new team, alongside Noriyuki Haga. With two remaining pre-season tests for Pirelli expected to be fully subscribed, and then a further two official FGSport tests coming shortly after the start of the 2007 season, the top teams will have no shortage of track time this winter. SUPERSPORT TEAMS READY FOR FIRST SHAKEDOWN TESTS Five manufacturers will be represented in the Supersport tests at Valencia. New official team, and long time WSS supporters Gilmotor Kawasaki will in the vanguard, along with Hoegee Suzuki. Ducati will also field a one-rider team via the SC Caracchi squad. The by now traditional championship challengers, Winston Ten Kate Honda and Yamaha Motor Germany, complete the World Supersport line up. Defending double champion Sebastien Charpentier and 2006 sensation Kenan Sofuoglu are back for Ten Kate, with the 2006 Yamaha line-up of Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes back together again.