Edwards arrives at the Lausitzring venue in confident mood after a win and a second place in the last round at Silverstone, GB ­ exactly the same results Edwards secured at the German venue a year ago.

"Silverstone was good and I managed to close the points gap to Troy (Bayliss)," recalls Edwards. "The Lausitzring circuit was good for me last year, in the wet. I should have had two wins but I went sideways off the start in race two.

"I'm just going about this the only way I know how ­ when I can win, I will and if I have to take the points on the day I'll do that."

The World Superbike action gets under way with a one hour free practice session on Friday morning and an hour-long qualifying session on Friday afternoon. Saturday's schedule concludes with Superpole at 4pm. Sunday's two races at Lausitzring start at 12noon and 3.30pm.

World Superbike championship points after six of 13 rounds: 1 Troy Bayliss, Australia (Ducati) 260 points, 2 Colin Edwards, USA (Castrol Honda) 231, 3 Neil Hodgson, GB (Ducati) 157, 4 Noriyuki Haga, Japan (Aprilia) 129, 5 Ruben Xaus, Spain (Ducati) 120, 6 Ben Bostrom, USA (Ducati) 119, 7 James Toseland, GB (Ducati) 81, 8 Chris Walker, GB (Kawasaki) 73, 9 Gregorio Lavilla, Spain (Suzuki) 60, 10 Juan Borja, Spain (Ducati) 53.