World Superbike ringmaster Paolo Flammini has declared his delight at the 32-strong entry list for this year's championship - as well he might as it is effectively double that of MotoGP.
While manufacturers are trying as hard as they can to think of ways to get out of the mightily-expensive blub riband class, customer teams from the same manufacturers are flocking into the Superbike and Supersport classes. And WSB has attracted two new marques in Aprilia and BMW.
"I am delighted with the success of the entry list for the 2009 SBK championship, which is the best ever. It is a true demonstration of the success of a formula that allows teams to compete in a high-level series with relatively low costs, and which also gives the possibility to private teams to go well," said Flammini, while laughing up his sleeve.
" The validity and the stability of the technical regulations have also helped to bring about the entry of two important new manufacturers, Aprilia and BMW, which takes the number of manufacturers present to an all-time record for Superbike.
"The rider quality will also be very high, with the arrival amongst others of the reigning AMA and BSB champions, as well as a number of talented new riders. In a moment of global economic difficulty Superbike can look to the future with serenity and optimism."
The lion's share of the entries goes to Italy, with eight riders, while Britain, Japan, and Spain are all well to the forefront with five riders each.
Australia has a healthy quota of four, with the USA, Germany, Czech Republic, France and Austria one apiece. New arrivals in this year's championship include three-time AMA champion Ben Spies, three of the top four from the 2008 British Superbike Championship (Shane Byrne, Leon Haslam and Tom Sykes), plus 2008 Italian Superbike champion Luca Scassa and 2008 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup winner Brendan Roberts.
On the manufacturer front, Honda have the largest representation with eight CBR1000RR machines split between six teams, followed by Ducati with seven 1098R (four teams), Kawasaki with six ZX-10R (three teams), Suzuki with four GSX-R 1000 K9 (three teams), three Yamaha YZF-R1 (two teams) and Aprilia and BMW with two RSV4 and S1000RR each in the factory team.
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