Wow, who’d have thought Max Biaggi would come out and dominate practice upon return at Misano’s WorldSBK round? It’s only early days during Friday’s sessions, but still I for one was definitely shocked by his early pace. And if he continues with that form, the series regulars have a lot to answer for.

Nobody can deny the skill of Biaggi as a multiple time world champion and one-time nemesis of Valentino Rossi in MotoGP, but at 43 years of age after two years of retirement he shouldn’t be able to match the current best.

I’ve thought this for quite a while and have most likely written it previously as well, that I believe the Aprilia is the best bike on the WorldSBK grid. As reigning world champion in the hands of Sylvain Guintoli, its performance has been proven aside from the changes in regulations.

Source: Aprilia Racing.

While the Kawasaki Racing Team of Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes (especially Rea) have taken much of the limelight this year, the RSV4 in its factory-prepared specification is the bike to be on in WorldSBK; case in point the competitiveness of Leon Haslam this year and decline of Guintoli on the aging Honda.

But Biaggi, despite his age and time out from the sport, has the potential to show just what a factory Aprilia is capable of in the hands of a first class rider. Agree or disagree, this is just my opinion from what we’ve seen in recent years. As for Jordi Torres, he’s a gun that will only improve further with experience.

We’re around a month out from the Suzuka 8 Hour in Japan and the race is shaping up to be a heck of an event in 2015. The comeback of Casey Stoner with Honda’s MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO team alongside Michael van der Mark and Takumi Takahashi will be interesting and high in pressure for the Aussie, on the defending champion team (he’ll be in place of Haslam).

Yamaha is fielding its first factory entry since 2002, placing Tech3 MotoGP duo Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro on the new YZF-R1 alongside Japanese ace Katsuyuki Nakasuga. The team will be strong, but I’d have still liked to see Josh Brookes or Broc Parkes somewhere in the lineup.

There is still the chance one of them could be with the Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART) entry, but unless it’s going to be a competitive packing on Bridgestone tyres then I would be surprised to see them in the race.

Josh Hook will be good to watch as part of the TSR Honda team partnered with Moto2 standout Dominique Aegerter and Pata Honda WSS rider Kyle Smith, on one of the proven top teams in the paddock. It could be his opportunity to really establish himself on the world stage, as Josh Waters did back in 2011.

Source: Suzuki Racing.

Waters will again be back with Yoshimura Suzuki on the official team, with Alex Lowes and Takuya Tsuda. Twice the Aussie has been runner-up and is always impressive at Suzuka, so don’t count out a first win in the 8 Hour this year.

We should see factory Honda Racing British Superbike regular Jason O’Halloran alongside Team Honda Racing’s Australasian Superbike leader Troy Herfoss at Sakurai Honda, which will be a great combination to follow and very capable depending on the strength of their bike/tyre package on the race weekend.

We’ll keep following the progress of the Suzuka grid in the lead-up to the race weekend on 23-26 July and hopefully keep track of the testing due to take place during that time as well.

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