News

The iconic Nurburgring will host the tenth round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship this weekend. The German venue marked its return to the series in 2008 with a partly modified layout, featuring a new slow section after Turn 1.

Following two solid race results at Silverstone, despite still poor physical conditions, championship leader Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) agreed not to undergo surgery for his injured shoulder (at least until the end of the season), spending his holiday time doing physiotherapy and exercises, instead. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), who is now 13 points behind his French rival after a difficult race day on home soil, is looking forward to bounce back on the track that saw him grab his maiden win two years ago, at the end of a rain-hampered Race 2.

Guintoli's team mate Eugene Laverty is aiming to keep the momentum up as the double podium at Silverstone helped him to narrow the gap to the front and climb to third position in the provisional standings. The Nurburgring is indeed a favourable track for the Irishman, who was second in both races last year. Works BMW riders Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies are hoping to turn the page on their disappointing last event and have radically different memories of last year's round. The Italian, who entered the German event as the man to beat, lost the lead by crashing out in both races, while Davies achieved his first ever WSBK win (Race 2).

The two riders who managed to climb on the top step of the podium in UK, Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) and Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team), are aiming to build on their recent results and be competitive until the end of the season. Rea is currently the only rider able to win twice at the Ring (2009, Race 1 and 2010, Race 2).

Boosted by their Silverstone podium finishes, Leon Camier and Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) hope to be in the mix for the top-3 once again, while Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare) is still waiting for a breakthrough in his so far frustrating 2013 season. Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing Team Ducati) will tackle his and his team's home Round with confidence. In 2008, the German rider managed to secure the pole start for the two races, and finished both races in third place.

Aussie Mark Aitchison will replace Alex Lundh, at Team Pedercini Kawasaki for the second time this year. The Swedish rider didn't manage to get back to full fitness for the German event, and will hope to make his return at Istanbul for the eleventh round.

IDM riders Markus Reiterberger (Team VanZon Remeha BMW) and Matej Smrz (Yamaha Motor Deutschland) will join the party at the Nurburgring. Smrz, the Czech rider, younger brother of former WSBK rider Jakub Smrz, will bring an R1 back to the series after almost two years of absence (last time out was Portimao 2011).