Source: Kawasaki.

For the second time in its history, the Sepang International Circuit is all-set to host a round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship this weekend in Malaysia.

The 2014 edition – held in June as opposed to August – featured a double for Aprilia, as Marco Melandri led home Sylvain Guintoli in both races.

This proved to be a mighty important round for the latter, as the Frenchman collected a total of 40 points which proved crucial in his world championship fight with Tom Sykes. The meeting is arguably best remembered the incident that took out Sykes at turn two in race one, as both he and Alex Lowes were taken down by Sykes’ wayward teammate Loris Baz.

In a very different set of circumstances, Sykes returns to Sepang second in the championship but a huge 125 points behind Kawasaki Racing Team partner Jonathan Rea. Although 200 points are still up for grabs between now and Qatar at the end of the season in October, Rea could wrap up the title in Malaysia, should he score 25 points more than Sykes.

Other than that, the Northern Irishman is also looking to extend his run of consecutive podium finishes; he is currently on 19, meaning he would beat Colin Edwards’ run of 25 should he finish on the rostrum in every race up to and including Losail race one. Incidentally, if the title is clinched by Rea in Malaysia, the triumph could only occur in the second of the two races.

Ducati collected its first double since Imola 2012 as Chaz Davies stunningly won both Laguna Seca races two weekends ago. This marked the Welshman’s own first double since Aragon 2013 and the first for the Ducati Panigale model, which debuted in World Superbike at the start of the 2013 campaign.

Davies will be the only factory Ducati rider on-track in Malaysia as teammate Davide Giugliano has been ruled out of the remaining rounds of the season due to the spinal injury he sustained at Laguna Seca. The team has decided not to replace Giugliano for the upcoming event, while his seat at Jerez in September will be taken by Michele Pirro.

Also making headlines on the run-up to Sepang is Max Biaggi, as the WorldSBK Champion of 2010 and 2012 returns for his second wildcard outing of 2015 after Misano. This time he has prepared for the event with four days of testing at the Malaysian venue, although three of the four are reported to have been affected by rain.

Nevertheless, the Italian – who last raced at Sepang a decade ago in MotoGP – is looking to continue his good form following his pair of sixth places at the Riviera di Rimini Round.

Elsewhere, Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils riders Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres both left Laguna disappointed, while the likes of Pata Honda World Superbike Team’s Guintoli and Michael van der Mark are looking for that extra boost to carry them to podiums.

The same could be said for BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team’s Ayrton Badovini and Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes, who each took one sixth place but one race retirement away from the last round. Both van der Mark and Lowes heads directly to Sepang from the Suzuka 8 Hours.

Spanish rookies Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) and the aforementioned Torres already know the Sepang International Circuit, albeit on different machinery, while the venue will be new for Barni Racing Team’s Leandro Mercado. Santiago Barragan will not take part in the Pirelli Malaysian Round, replaced at Team Grillini Kawasaki by Australian Alex Phillis.

In World Supersport Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) continues to hunt down three-time champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). The gap between them is 20 points and PJ Jacobsen mustn’t be forgotten either.

Frenchman Cluzel has won the last two races, with the points lead of Sofuoglu plummeting from 40 to 20 points when the Turk made a rare error and slipped down the order on the final lap at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

Ratthapong Wilairot made his World Supersport debut earlier this season in Thailand and he now returns to action for the Malaysian round, but on this occasion with CIA Landlords Insurance Honda as a replacement for Riccardo Russo. Teammate Kieran Clarke will miss the rest of the season and is covered for at Sepang by Aiden Wagner.