track: Phillip Island, which takes over from Assen (pole lap speed 112.79mph) as the fastest track of the year. Last year's Australian pole speed was 110.404mph.But not all modern tracks are Mickey Mouse. Brno remains vast and grand, giving the 990s a

in a pit-lane crash with a pedestrian at Jerez in the early 1990s, was a powerful presence at Phillip Island.Did Dani Boy take a dive in Malaysia? The little feller crashed heavily on the first day of practice, gashing one knee, bashing the other

or Yamaha Motor Italia are scheduled for the next top team test, at Phillip Island in January. Budgets and availability of the latest parts or '06 spec bikes are said to be to blame.Time to adjust the calendar to give more time for testing? Or to cancel far

of the best tracks shared by MotoGP and SBK; Assen, Phillip Island, and Brno. Add in the best holiday race venue imaginable, Misano, and World Superbike's asphalted 'homes' invariably punch the grin glands pretty hard.

too many of the wrong size holes drilled through the fairing sides of his FP-1 (to combat the high winds in qualifying). After Phillip Island the 'rules' had been changed from those in the official rulebook, instantly dating the almighty FIM 2005 bible

for the first time at Phillip Island just a fortnight ago. In an identical result to Race One at Losail earlier today, Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) and Max Biaggi (Aprilia), took second and third places on the podium.Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike): "Nori set a

to satisfy myself it was every bit as remarkable on the road as it had been back at Phillip Island in Australia. This fourth generation GSX-R1000 has all the latest technology including three settings for engine mapping, a slipper clutch, and a gear position

Toseland to give the second all British podium of the day. Max Biaggi was a strong fourth, Troy Corser fifth, after another classic race at the classic circuit of Assen. Sixth came Phillip Island race winner Carlos Checa on his Althea Ducati, only just

Blade, was an 893cc four that made 124bhp and was lighter and more agile than most middleweights. It was one of the few bikes mad enough to make everyone who’s ridden one remember their first ride. Having missed the Phillip Island launch, my ’Blade debut was a

three world titles, with John Kocinski in 1997 and then twice with fellow American rider Colin Edwards in 2000 and 2002.For Jonathan Rea, 23, the new season, which opens on 27 February at Phillip Island in Australia, will be his third in the World