IS THE POWER SHIFTING?

News that Jonathan Rea is staying with the Honda Ten Kate team in World Superbikes next year is, perhaps, more significant than it at first seems. On the surface it just that Honda want the young Irishman to stay where he is, team up with Leon Haslam, and have a real chance of winning the world championship which he certainly wouldn't in MotoGP, not yet anyway.

But it also indicates that Honda are pretty serious about WSB and while their bikes next year will be uprated versions of the present rather ancient Fireblades, Honda personnel at Portimao were not denying stories of a super V-four in 2014

It also comes at a time when WSB are cock-a-hoop about getting back the iconic Laguna Seca circuit in California from where they were unceremoniously thrown out by MotoGP money some years ago. And securing Jerez, seen as the 'home' of their deadly rivals, for the final round of 2013. Oh, and having a new round in India.

Now some may question these new territories - the Russian round received mixed reviews from riders and teams - but these growth territories are where more motorbikes are being sold. But what wins on Sunday sells on Monday. And they're not all Royal Enfields!

So from looking like the poor relation to MotoGP - they're both owned by Bridgepoint, the financial investment company - WSB is starting to look confident, no doubt helped by the huge rows between promoters and manufacturers which are causing great uncertainty in the prototype class.

And one has to ask if this apparent resurgence is being promoted by the owner who will want to sell one of them, MototGP, withIn the next year or so. Perhaps they see more future in the production-based formula and are taking a longer term view.

But more interesting and exciting for British and Irish fans is that next season there will be six riders by the names of Laverty, Rea, Sykes, Camier, Davies and Haslam all capable of winning, not only individual races but the world championship! Never in recent times has any world championship offered such possibilities.

All we need now is for one of the British rounds to be held at Brands Hatch, a venue capable of lifting an everyday round into an event. Remember the Fogarty years and three day crowds of 100,000.

And what's stopping it? Silverstone would happily get rid of their round, any safety issues can easily be overcome and the new WSB owners would like it. Er, money? If Messrs Flammini and Palmer could forget past differences and negotiate a fee which is perfectly doable we could have the real 'Race of the Year.'

Let's get ready to rumble!