Four-time World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty believes a British rider should win the WSBK title this season with Eugene Laverty and Tom Sykes the strongest challengers.

"World Superbikes is very healthy at the moment with a lot of British riders. Racing is very close and you can’t tell what is going to happen. I think it will become more standard than it is now. It will still be great racing with two races on the day. Bikes will be more like you buy in the shop but I don’t think that will make a massive difference," said Fogarty, speaking to Bikesport News.

“A British rider should win this year. I think it will be Eugene Laverty or Tom Sykes. Failing that, maybe Melandri. Jonathan Rea is a very talented guy but Honda isn’t doing him justice any more for some reason. The Aprilia and the Kawasaki are the strongest bikes out there."

For the full and frank interview with Foggy, get the 80-page first birthday issue of Bikesport News, on sale tomorrow.