World Superbike will star at Phillip Island on 22-24 February.

Fanned by yet another massive off-season shake-up, the 2013 World Superbike Championship begins at Phillip Island on 22-24 February as the first shots are fired to crown a replacement champion for the retired Max Biaggi.

The 2013 grid exudes class from every angle, with five of the six factory teams — Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, BMW and Aprilia – all starting the championship on well-sorted bikes, and fielding riders who have won 65 WSBK races between them.

The X-factor is Ducati, which is inaugurating its all-new 1199 Panigale R in 2013 — but with such an imposing WSBK heritage the Italian manufacturer is also certain to be a contender from the get-go, particularly with Phillip Island specialist Carlos Checa one of the riders.

The championship opener is set to be the fastest world superbike race at Phillip Island on record following a $3 million resurface of the 4.445km circuit. The current lap record is held by Biaggi (1:31.785), but expect to see that time obliterated as the superstars of WSBK get down to business.

There will be two 22-lap WSBK races on 24 February, plus the opening race of the Supersport World Championship. A bumper crop of 35 riders are lining up for the 2013 season, all chasing defending champion Turkey’s Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) in the race for the crown.

Local fans have plenty to cheer about at the island with six hard-charging Australians competing in the world championship classes at Phillip Island – Jamie Stauffer (Honda) and Glenn Allerton (BMW) in Superbike, with Kevin Curtain (Yamaha), Mitchell Carr (Triumph), Josh Hook (Honda) and Matt Davies (Honda) in Supersport.

All but Carr and Davies will be making one-off championship appearances, but 46-year-old Curtain certainly won’t be overawed. He’s finished on the World Supersport podium four times at Phillip Island, including a victory in 2001.

The on-track action at Phillip Island will be completed by the opening rounds of the Australian Prostock and Supersport Championships, as well as events for national Superbike and Historic competitors. The on-track action commences before 9.00am on all three days of the event.

The official pre-season test will be held just prior to race weekend on the freshly resurfaced Phillip Island circuit. All eyes will be on the time sheets as the riders experience the all new and bump-free island track.

Buy now and save with a race day tickets from $75 in advance, and three day passes $135 adult advance or $270 advance for a family of four, plus a postage and handling fee.

Tickets for Phillip Island are available at www.worldsbk.com.au or call the ticket hotline on 1300 728 007.