World SuperBike 2002 - Round 1 - Valencia - Honda Preview - March 6

Castrol Honda's Colin Edwards starts a new World Superbike campaign in Spain on Sunday, confident he can regain the title he won in 2000.

Edwards goes into battle at the Valencia circuit knowing a good start to the 13-round championship would leave his rivals in no doubt about his intentions. Victory in the opening round may also prove a good omen for the 28-year-old.

"I won the first race of the year in 2000, on the new SP-1 at Kyalami, now I've got the SP-2 I want to do the same again," says Edwards. "This machine is a big improvement on last year's and we've proved in testing that it's a better machine to race and easier on the Michelin tyres."

Last year's champion Troy Bayliss is expected to be the closest rival but Edwards is also ready for a challenge from two of his best friends in the paddock.

"Both Ben Bostrom and Noriyuki Haga have a point to prove," Edwards reveals. "Bostrom's coming into the year on the back of a good 2001 while Haga has a serious point to prove after a tough year in 500 GPs in 2001."

The HRC kit machine of Mark Heckles makes its debut on Sunday in the Castrol Honda Rumi colours with the British rider keen to make an impression.

"Our build up to the year has been slow as we've been putting a new team together but I'm pretty confident I can score some points and build from there," says Heckles. "The new SP-2 feels like the all round package, and a lot different to the Fireblade I rode last year in Superstock!"

Included in the changes to the 2002 line-ups are two new faces at Kawasaki, Hitoyasu Izutsu and Chris Walker while veteran Pier-Francesco Chili returns to Ducati, riding the ex-Ben Bostrom machine in the NCR team.

Spaniard Gregorio Lavilla begins his Suzuki career on home soil after a winter switch from Kawasaki. The new Foggy Petronas team is expected in Valencia for PR purposes before joining the series with a new three-cylinder machine at the Laguna Seca, USA round in July.

World Supersport action gets under way at the 2.49-mile (4.005km) Valencia track with the opening round of the 12-round championship and Honda is well represented. Four, two-rider teams each boast riders capable of winning races.

The Ten Kate team has replaced Pere Riba with Briton Iain MacPherson after the Spanish rider took over Alex Criville's 500 GP Yamaha ride last week. MacPherson is joined by sensational Frenchman Fabien Foret.

The Belgian BKM team fields Frenchman Christophe Cogan and former Superbike rider Robert Ulm while the Van Zon team, also from Belgium and armed with Ten Kate-prepared engines, rests its hopes on the shoulders of Werner Daemen and promising Australian Chris Vermeulen.

Honda UK's team of Karl Muggeridge and John McGuinness suffered minor setbacks as both riders head for Valencia carrying injuries but Muggeridge returning to Honda after a year with Suzuki remains optimistic about his chances.

He comments: "I've got a little ankle injury but nothing that should stop me from trying to win. By tradition Supersport is closely-fought and you have to be tough I don't see that being any different in 2002."

Reigning champion Andrew Pitt (Kawasaki) and former champions Jorg Teuchert (Yamaha) and Stephane Chambon (Suzuki) are among the title contenders.

Superbike:
2001 qualifying, fastest: Troy Corser, Australia (Aprilia) 1m 35.504s
2001 Superpole: Troy Corser, Australia (Aprilia) 1m 36.193s
2001 race winners: Troy Corser, Australia (Aprilia) x 2
Lap record: Troy Corser, Australia (Aprilia) 1m 36.817s (June 2000)

Supersport:
2001 pole position: Fabien Foret, France (Honda) 1m 39.061s
2001 race winner: Pere Riba, Spain (Honda)
Lap record: Pere Riba, Spain (Honda) 1m 40.047s (March 2001)

Valencia 2001 - Race 1 Report - Race 2 Report - Images - Quotes