World Superbike - 2010 rider update

October 13, 7:32 PMWorld Superbike ExaminerRichard Zane

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Photo Courtesy Team Suzuki

It's over a week until the final round of this year's World Superbike Championship, but there's been no shortage of news since the last round at Imola where a first and a second gave Noriyuki Haga a ten point lead over Ben Spies in the fight for the superbike crown. Most of the news has to do with who will be riding where next year. A situation that has become clear since it was announced that Spies will be riding a Yamaha in MotoGP next year. Here are some of the riders who have signed for next season:

Max Biaggi – Aprilia

Troy Corser & Ruben Xaus - BMW

Michel Fabrizio & Noriyuki Haga – Ducati Corse

Jonathan Rea & Max Neukirchner – Ten Kate Honda

Chris Vermuelen – Paul Bird Kawasaki

Sylvain Guintoli & Leon Haslam – Alstare Suzuki

Cal Crutchlow & James Toseland – Yamaha

One of the surprises on this list is that Max Neukirchner will be riding for Ten Kate Honda in 2010. The German rider has had an injury plagued year that left him on the sidelines for most of the season. A dispute with his Alstare Suzuki team over the treatment of his injuries and when he should return to action has led to the team issuing a statement and ending their association with Neukirchner. Sylvain Guintoli moves up from BSB, and Leon Haslam moves over from the financially struggling Stiggy Team to complete the team’s lineup for 2010. Yukio Kagayama leaves Alstare for the British Superbike series.

There are only a few good rides left with many good riders still sitting on the sidelines. Those riders include Shane Byrne, Leon Camier, Carlos Checa, Alex DeAngelis, Toni Elias, John Hopkins and Tom Sykes. The best seats still up for grabs are at the Aprilia factory team and the Paul Bird Kawasaki team. Aprilia recently stated that they would be fielding a second team in 2010.

Max Neukirchner is just one of several WSBK riders who have been injured this year. Here’s a list of crash victims who suffered the most critical injuries. Only Haga was able to recuperate without missing any races:

Noriyuki Haga – broken arm, fractured shoulder blade
John Hopkins – head trauma, hip, leg, shoulder & wrist injuries
Shinya Nakano – broken collarbone
Max Neukirchner – broken femur, fractured vertebrae
Brendan Roberts – severe bruising
Makoto Tamada – broken fingers, concussion
Ruben Xaus – broken femur

The World Supersport teams are testing at Portimao this week ahead of next week’s final race at the Portuguese circuit. Chaz Davies will once again be riding on a Triumph supersport bike, and Leon Camier will be riding the Aprilia superbike in place of the injured Shinya Nakano. The final weekend will see the conclusion of the Haga-Spies championship battle, and more revelations about who will be taking those remaining seats in 2010.