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Euro 2016 is in full swing and while Northern Ireland is an underdog in football, its certainly the leading the way in WorldSBK.

Jonathan Rea hasn't won in two months, but the Champion has extended his title lead to 56 points by virtue of consistently standing on the rostrum. This weekend's Misano round looks like an ideal opportunity for him to set the record straight and get back to winning ways. Misano is the scene of Rea's first WorldSBK win in 2009, and while he will once again face stiff competition from his rivals, a repeat of last year's combination of a second place finish and a win is a distinct possibility.

Standing in his way will be Tom Sykes and Chaz Davies. Sykes will travel to Italy second in the Championship and the form man of late, with three wins from four races. The Englishman has also taken pole position at Misano for the last four years and having also taken three wins, he is the most successful rider on the grid at the Italian venue.

Sykes' dominant Sepang win in Race 1 and his gritty, determined performance at Donington has once again proven that he is one of the best riders in the world. The results have vaulted him back into title contention but the next two Rounds are crucial for his title chances. With Misano and Laguna Seca the remaining Rounds before the summer break, Sykes will know the importance of closing the points gap to Rea and keeping the reigning Champion out of the winners enclosure.

This weekend will mark Sykes' 200th race start in WorldSBK and he'll be keen to hit that milestone with a win. His Donington Park wins have completely rebuilt his confidence and having enjoyed a fruitful test at Jerez, the 2013 WorldSBK Champion will ride this weekend with his confidence sky high. His victories in Chang, Sepang and Donington Park have all been top drawer and wins that any rider would be proud of - but now it's important to maintain that momentum. Sykes has no margin for error and needs to press Rea in the coming two rounds.

Chaz Davies is another man with no margin for mistakes, and nowhere to hide. This weekend is a home round for Ducati, and having tested at Misano for two days the Welshman will be under pressure to maintain his Italian dominance of 2016. His stunning double win at Imola has been a highlight of the season so far for Davies but despite having been arguably the strongest rider in the Championship up to Round 8, he finds himself third in the standings. The biggest setback of the year was last time out at his home round when a rare mechanical failure cost him valuable track time in free practice and ultimately came back to haunt him in both races.

A trouble free weekend is a must for Davies in Misano but his speed, consistency and confidence throughout this season has marked him as the man to beat more times than not. Misano has always been a happy hunting ground for Ducati, with 28 wins – the most for a manufacturer on a given track and more than half the wins at the seaside circuit. The Borgo Panigale factory will be confident of adding to that haul this weekend.

While it would be no surprise to see Davies or Sykes win both races in Misano, the bigger picture has once again shown that Jonathan Rea is the man to beat in WorldSBK. It's strange to say it looking at the points, but the Champion has struggled throughout this year to get the new bike to feel comfortable at times. Even so, he has been able to build a commanding title lead through podium finishes and taking advantage of the misfortunes that befall his rivals.

The 2016 is far from a repeat of last year's dominance by Rea, but while the story of the season has been very different, the outcome has seen Rea open a title of more than two race wins. If Sykes or Davies are to have a chance of changing the script of the Championship, they will need to leave the Adriatic Coast with a double win.