The 2008 provisional calendar for the Superbike and Supersport Championships and Superstock FIM Cup is as follows:

February 23 - Qatar - Doha/Losail
March 2 - Australia - Phillip Island
April 6 - Spain - Valencia*
April 27 - Netherlands - Assen*
May 11 - Italy - Monza*
June 1 - United States - Salt Lake City
June 15 - Tba - Tba
June 29 - San Marino - Misano*
July 20 - Czech Rep. - Brno*
August 3 - Great Britain - Brands Hatch*
August 24 - Tba Tba
September 7 - Great Britain - Donington Park*
September 28 - Italy - Vallelunga
October 5 - France - Magny Cours*
October 26 - Portugal - Portimao*

*with Superstock FIM Cup

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Joining the roster of teams competing for the WSBK Championships next year, 2008, is Team Guandalini with Czech rider Jakub Smrz. Team Guandalini will compete in the World Superbike Championships with the new Ducati 1200 twin.

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This past weekend at Magny Cours, the Ten Kate Honda Team announced the names of the riders who will ride for their World Superbike and World Supersport Teams. 3 riders are set to ride for the World Superbike Team: Spaniard Carlos Checa from MotoGP, Turkish rider and 2007 World Supersport Champion Kenan Sofuoglu, and Japanese Ryuichi Kiyonari comes on-board from the British Superbike Series where he currently leads.

2 riders are set for the World Supersport Team: Aussie Andrew Pitt is joined by the Brit Jonathan Rea.

Ronald Ten Kate, team manager:

“After such a successful 2007 season, we wanted to build a team that brings the same kind of success for 2008 and beyond. This is why we have chosen to go with some very young riders in both the Superbike and Supersport class. We are confident that we can do well in developing these riders.”

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James Toseland has done it, becoming the 2007 World Superbike Champion.

from WSBK:

“It’s about time! I have led the championship from Qatar and what an incredible championship it has been. I think this has been the best World Superbike season I have ever experienced and I have been riding in the series for seven years now. The standard of riding has been incredible and I have enjoyed battling with all of the riders - Bayliss, Corser, Biaggi, Haga - the list goes on! I have been pushed to the absolute limit and to win the championship by just two points is unbelievable.

“To get pole position and the series title at my last Superbike round is amazing. This is what I live for, it’s what really matters to me and I wanted it so much. This is my way of saying thank you to everyone who has supported me through my Superbike career - my friends, my family, my sponsors, FGSport and the whole Superbike team and of course, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda. I can leave for MotoGP with my head held high and the knowledge that I gave this championship my all until the very last race.”

Early fog at the track took forever to clear and the first few races were delayed, playing with the nerves of all three potential championship winners. In the first race, a collision with Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) saw Toseland in last place after the first few corners, while one of his main championship rivals, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) scorched away to the first of two wins.

Going into race two Toseland rode sensibly behind the leading bunch to record a sixth place finish, and the ten points he gained for that position gave him a final season total of 415, to Haga’s 413. Toseland thus gasped over the line to his second title win, but with eight race victories to his credit in 2007, one more than any other rider this year, his strong early season work ensured he would get his final reward, and the accolades of the 75,000 weekend crowd.

Biaggi finished the season third on 397 points, Bayliss fourth on 372, and Corser fifth on 296.

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In race 1 of World Superbike Championship racing at Magny Cours, Noriyuki Haga came out victorious and placed himself back into contention for the championship just 17 points behind and 25 up for grabs. A dramatic start to the first race, much delayed because of heavy fog, saw Toseland and Lanzi clash on the entry to turn one, Lanzi fall, Toseland pushed off track and Biaggi also being held up in the mess. Up front Haga made a clean start and led every lap, with Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 2.7 seconds behind in second place and Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) was hot on his heels in 3rd. Max Biaggi struggling a little at the start dropping to 15th, managing to eventually place 6th. James Toseland’s brush with Lorenzo Lanzi and running off the track into last place, saw vigorous effort making his way back on the track and working through the field to place 7th.

In race 2 Noriyuki Haga dominated the field again in front of the 75,000 fans attending. Haga lead th entire race, Biaggi had a much better round placing 2nd. It all came down to how well Toseland would place, he fought hard to place 6th behind Bayliss to take the crown by a margin of 2 points as 2007 World Superbike Champion!

Kenan Sofuoglu ended the World Supersport Championship season with a victory at Magny Cours. It wasn’t an easy task, the entire race was a battle with 2nd place Broc Parkes.

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