World Superbike News

Shane Byrne

Just when it looked as though World Superbike had toughed out the financial crisis problems that have hit it’s rivals in Moto GP and Formula 1, the latest World Superbike news from the Sterilgarda Ducati team is that they will start the 2009 season with just one rider because of a shortfall in their current budget.

Last years British Superbike champion Shane Byrne will take his place on the grid at Phillip Island on the 1st March 2009, but there will be no place for Byrne’s new team mate, the 2006 Superstock 1000 champion Alessandro Polito.

Polito who raced for Sterilgarda Ducati aboard the 1198R in last seasons Superstock where he finished third overall, will have to wait until round three , the first of the European rounds at Valencia in Spain, before being able to take part in the teams  World Superbike championship for 2009.

Sterilgarda Ducati team boss Marco Borciani explained the situation that the team are in:

“I feel really sorry about the situation that does not allow Alex Polita to enter the first two round of the season. Unfortunately the economic scenario has cut the assistance of several sponsors who were supposed to help the team for the 2009 season.  Alex is a talented young rider with whom I hope to again be able to work with in the future. We will try to get everything ready for the third round of the championship with two riders on track”

Hanspree Ten Kate Honda team boss Ronald Ten Kate, had warned in an interview with MCN several weeks ago that this years championship  would be affected by the current financial situation. He considered that it was not a case of if, but when,  teams would start pulling out.

Sterilgarda Ducati are the first of the many teams involved in this years championship to prove Ten Kate’s prediction, although only a cutback rather than a full withdrawal at this stage.

While it is a blow for the Sterilgarda Ducati team, they will be hoping that Shane Byrne can translate his domination in testing at Portimao, into World Superbike results at the first rounds in Australia and Qatar, where he will be among the favourites for the Championship title this year.