As feared, the World Superbike grid seems likely to shrink for the 2013 Championship season, with only 19 riders listed on the provisional list by the FIM. Down from the 23 bikes on the grid at Phillip Island in 2012, the euro-centric series is still dealing with the economic downturn in Europe, which continues to linger in the important markets of Spain and Italy.
However though, it is of note that the difference in machines can be attributed to the absence of the Liberty Racing Team, which ran four riders in the early part of the 2012, before falling to pieces by the conclusion of the season. Only one former Liberty Racing rider returns to WSBK for 2013: Sylvain Guintoli, who will race on the factory Aprilia Racing team, with Maxime Berger, Jakub Smrz, and Brett McCormick unable to secure rides in WSBK for the coming season.
A negative piece of news, World Superbike can still boast having six factory teams in its series, which is certainly a better result than the three factories expected in the 2013 MotoGP Championship — with a number of teams and riders able to win on Sunday, we imagine WSBK racing should still be very entertaining.
Meanwhile, World Supersport has a bevy of entries, with 35 riders and six manufacturers entered into the 600cc class, including MV Agusta Corse.
2013 Provisional World Superbike Entry List:
2 – Leon Camier – FIXI Crescent Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R 1000
5 – Alexander Lundh – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX-10R
7 – Carlos Checa – Team Ducati Alstare – Ducati 1199 Panigale R
16 – Jules Cluzel – FIXI Crescent Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R 1000
18 – Ivan Clementi – HTM Racing – BMW S1000RR
19 – Chaz Davies – BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team – BMW S1000RR HP4
23 – Federico Sandi – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX-10R
27 – Max Neukirchner – MR Racing – Ducati 1199 Panigale R
31 – Vittorio Iannuzzo – Grillini Dentalmatic SBK Team – BMW S1000RR
33 – Marco Melandri – BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team – BMW S1000RR HP4
34 – Davide Giugliano – Althea Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory
50 – Sylvain Guintoli – Aprilia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory
58 – Eugene Laverty – Aprilia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory
65 – Jonathan Rea – Pata Honda World Superbike Team – Honda CBR 1000RR
66 – Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R
76 – Loris Baz – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R
84 – Michel Fabrizio – Red Devils Roma – Aprilia RSV4 Factory
86 – Ayrton Badovini – Team Ducati Alstare – Ducati 1199 Panigale R
91 – Leon Haslam – Pata Honda World Superbike Team – Honda CBR 1000RR
Source: FIM; Photo: WorldSBK
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