World SuperBike 2002 - Round 2 - Phillip Island

Castrol Honda's Colin Edwards is aiming to continue where he left off when the World Superbike championship arrives in Australia this week for round two of the 13-round series.

Edwards powered his VTR1000 to victory in last year's opening race at Phillip Island only for torrential race to force the cancellation of the second race and abandonment of the event.

"On paper I should have had another 25 points in the bag for a win that day," recalls Edwards. "We're at Phillip Island about a month earlier than we were last year so hopefully that will guarantee better weather."

The 28-year-old SP-2 Honda-mounted rider adds: "I love the Phillip Island track, it's probably my favourite and I've always done reasonably well there. We tested there in February and I think we're in good shape with the machine and the Michelin tyres for Sunday's two races."

Edwards will be looking to reel in some of the points deficit to series leader Troy Bayliss after the Ducati rider won both races of the opening round in Spain on March 10. Aprilia's Noriyuki Haga, second in both Spanish races, and Edwards' fellow American Ben Bostrom are among the riders expected to challenge for victories in Australia.

After a disappointing start to the season Mark Heckles will be hoping to scoop some points on his Phillip Island debut aboard the Castrol Honda Rumi HRC kit machine.

Fabien Foret will be hoping to repeat his opening round win the World Supersport championship after the diminutive Frenchman dominated proceedings at Valencia.

The series leader, riding for the Dutch Ten Kate Honda team, is well aware of the challenge but believes the CBR600 machine is a match for anything.

"Phillip Island is a real horse power circuit and I'm confident we've got that," says Foret. "The circuit is not as technical as Valencia so I think the race on Sunday will be close and exciting."

One of Foret's challengers on Sunday is expected to be young Australian Chris Vermeulen. The Van Zon Honda team rider finished fourth in the opening round in Spain and is relishing his return to home soil.

"Although I've actually not raced that much down at Phillip Island I do love the track," says 19-year-old Vermeulen. "I was concerned only with getting some points on the board in Spain and I was a little disappointed to lose third place on the last lap but I'm looking to win on Sunday in my home race."