When we talk about shrinking grid sizes, it is usually MotoGP that gets the bulk of our scrutiny; however, some concern is starting to be generated over how large the field will be for the World Superbike Championship next season.
While there were 23 bikes on the starting grid at Phillip Island in 2012, for 2013 that number could well be 19 or less at the season-opener. While there are a number of factors for the smaller grid, it is no small coincidence that WSBK is short the same number of bikes that Effenbert Liberty Racing fielded last season.
With the Czech team’s plans for 2013 still not publicly known, and no teams seemingly willing to fill the void left by Liberty Racing, it is possible that we will see a 19 bike grid a Phillip Island in a few months. Hopefully that is not the case, and some other entries come out of the woodwork. As always, time will tell.
Known Entries for the 2013 World Superbike Championship:
(2) Aprilia Racing Team: Eugene Laverty & Sylvain Guintoli
(1) Team Althea Racing Aprilia: Davide Giugliano
(1) Team Red Devils Aprilia: Michel Fabrizio
(2) Kawasaki Racing Team: Tom Sykes & Loris Baz
*(2) Pedercini Kawasaki: Alex Lundh & Grotzkyj Simone Giorgi
(2) Pata Racing Team Honda: Jonathan Rea & Leon Haslam
(2) Crescent Suzuki Team Fixi: Jules Cluzel & Leon Camier
(2) Team Alstare Ducati: Carlos Checa & Ayrton Badovini
(2) BMW Motorrad Motorsport Goldbet: Marco Melandri & Chaz Davies
(1) Grillini Progea SBK Team BMW: Vittorio Iannuzzo
*(1) Team Air Asia BMW: Ivan Clementi
(1) Ducati Team MR: Max Neukirchner
* To Be Confirmed
Source: Moto.it
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