Few of the venues on the 2005 World Supersport calendar offer the same mix of contrasts as Misano, both on and off track. The demanding 4.060km circuit layout features some of the most tortuous twists, turns and chicanes imaginable, yet is also host to the awesome Curvone corner, where riders accelerate through the gearbox around three increasing velocity left hand corners, ending up at top speed on the back straight. The almost entirely flat layout of the Santamonica circuit nonetheless features a mix of cambers on the asphalt itself, making set-up a sometimes-tricky affair.

Off track Misano and its surrounding holiday resorts offer a sun-kissed playground for the locals, but with the championship entering the critical middle section, riders and teams will have little chance to relax and cool off until their tasks are completed on Sunday evening.

Honda CBR600RR riders may be largely dominating the standings in World Supersport, but nothing can be taken for granted at a circuit that has thrown up some peculiarities in years gone by. Even allowing for this, the strong favourites to continue their monopoly of the top step of the podium are Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) and Katsuaki Fujiwara (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR), currently first and second in the rankings, having taken three and two race wins respectively.

A sometimes-dramatic season for 2002 Honda-mounted World Champion Fabien Foret (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) sees him in fourth position overall, on 54 points, as he endeavours to make his particular machinery package fully competitive. Twice a winner at Misano, once in breathtaking fashion on a previously uncompetitive machine, Foret is always a committed competitor.

Michel Fabrizio (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) had a superb start to his first full rookie season in World Supersport, but bad luck and a relative lack of experience have dropped him down the rankings to seventh, on 42 points. On one of his home circuits, however, he will be nothing short of a podium favourite.

Finnish pilot Tatu Lauslehto (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) is even less experienced than Fabrizio, but the latest rider to be talent spotted by former World Sidecar Champion Klaus Klaffenbock has already shown his burgeoning pace. Racing with, and often beating, big names in this most overheated of championship classes; he is currently ninth, on 30 points.

Charpentier, the class act of the year, with three wins and two second places so far, is out to build on his momentum for another weekend, at a place he knows well. A recent test at Magny Cours has given him another reason to be cheerful, as have his personal pre-race preparations.

“I just want to continue with more of the same this weekend, because the start to the season has been a dream,” said Charpentier in the run-up to Misano. “Three wins and two second places is fantastic for me, and with Kats second in the championship, that’s also great for the team. There is a fantastic atmosphere in the garage. Everyone is very relaxed and after our test at Magny-Cours, we are confident that we can continue with our good performances. The last round at Silverstone was perfect for me, with pole position, the fastest lap and a win. I would like to repeat that at Misano this weekend, so I have been doing some cycling in the hot weather in France, to prepare the conditions this weekend.”

Fujiwara, riding a Honda for the first time in World Supersport, has been an immediate hit, only giving ground to Charpentier, who is a more experienced CBR600RR pilot. ‘Kats’ had a tough last round in England, making him more determined than ever to overhaul his team-mate, and tie the win count at 3-3.

“Silverstone was not so good for me because I had a crash during practice and a bit of a cold as well,” said a rueful Fujiwara. “In the race I experienced some gear selection problems and that allowed Sebastien to have a bigger lead in the championship. I have to try very hard for another win this weekend to close the gap and after the test in France I think I have a good chance. I am feeling fit now and the shoulder that I injured at Silverstone is much better. I’m looking forward to Misano, where I have been on the podium before. Now I would like to win there.”

Foret, a rider of outright Supersport genius on occasion, harks back to previous Misano glories for additional inspiration.

“Misano is always a lucky track for me,” said a clearly motivated Foret. “Two years ago I won my first and last race with the Kawasaki and I hope that on Sunday I can repeat the performance. After the bad experience at Monza I want to continue the positive moment, which started with the podium position at Silverstone. At the Santamonica circuit I want to take more important points for the championship. My target is to secure one of the first three positions.”

Fabrizio, another charging rider and one learning more of his craft with every passing weekend, was reserved in his pre-race comments. Despite his caution, and some recent bad luck, he is sure to fly on home tarmac.

“I don’t know what I must hope for, as it has not been a positive period for me,” said a reflective Fabrizio. “I hope that the unlucky run will stop soon. In Silverstone I ran a good race but a technical problem stopped me before the end. Now I want to take important points and get back into the top three by the end of the season. I hope that on my home circuit I can make a fantastic result. My team and I both need this, as we have all worked so hard to reach the same level as the first two bikes in the series.”

Lauslehto will be in learning-while-racing mode once more, something he has grown used to this year. The confidence of his youth shines through, and beyond, his pre-race comments.

“It will be my first race at Misano and I’m very eager to do my first laps,” said the Finn. “Last week we were testing at Brno and I’m very content. The Klaffi Honda CBR600RR is super-fast, and our set-up and suspension feel perfect. I really like my bike!”

All of Honda’s five supported World Superbike riders feature in the top half of the championship table as the mid season race approaches, in what is the most competitive and densely packed Superbike series for a number of years.

Despite an early season illness, lack of preparation time for his team and the very early start to the championship season in general, Chris Vermeulen (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR), has nonetheless shown he can win on the big CBR, taking race two at Monza in May, one of his four podium finishes so far.

Within three points of second position overall, Vermeulen approaches Misano with two clear desires - to overtake Yukio Kagayama for second, and narrow the points gap on leader Troy Corser.

For the other four Honda riders, the start of the 2005 season has been sometimes rewarding, yet equally frustrating, as each has celebrated and suffered. Pierfrancesco Chili (Klaffi Honda CBR1000RR), went ninth overall in the championship at Silverstone, thanks to two fifth place race finishes, while his team-mate Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda CBR1000RR), had only one scoring ride in England, and now sits 11th overall. Both Klaffi Honda riders have been injured and faced restorative operations this year, missing points scoring opportunities, which have held back their overall challenges.

Chili (the oldest competitor in the series at 41) and Neukirchner (the youngest at 22) have nonetheless demonstrated their combined strength, as they bounced back from suffering a broken collarbone and hand respectively.
Neukirchner, a rookie in the class, scored a magnificent podium in Australia before his heavy fall in Spain, while Chili approaches his home round with the knowledge that he won a Misano race last year.

Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) has taken a leap from a championship winning Supersport career into Superbike this season, with mixed fortunes so far. A personal best of fourth could well be beaten by the 2004 Misano Supersport race winner, as he endeavours to move on from 12th overall in the standings.

Ben Bostrom (Renegade Honda Koji CBR1000RR) carries on his work with his new team, with sixth place in race two at Valencia the highlight of his half-year, which sees him 15th.

Vermeulen knows that Misano is a considerable physical challenge for all riders, such is the heat of Italy in late June, and that the competition for race wins will come from the usual suspects.

"I’ve spent the last few days in Florence with my leathers supplier so I’m getting acclimatised,” said Vermeulen, “but I still think it’ll be pretty hot this weekend. We’ve definitely made some improvements to the bike which I hope will help me fight for at least a couple of podiums. I like Misano but I’ve never had much luck here and never finished on the podium in Supersport - although I did qualify on the front row in 2003. As far as this year’s championship goes, I have to be looking at podium finishes and would like another win this weekend. Troy Corser is fast at Misano and the Ducatis will be strong here as well, so I’ll be looking to get the most of the recent improvements we’ve made.”

Misano is a literal home race for Chili, as his wife Romina owns a beach in Misano itself. The weekend is all the more meaningful as he is on schedule to pass the mark of 250 career Superbike races. Home or away, Chili nonetheless knows Misano will be a hard challenge once more, but his aim is to celebrate from the podium nonetheless.

“It is my 250th race in the Superbike Championship and for me a ‘home’
game,” said Chili. “I want to make a good race, and to be on the podium would be great. We will give our all but whatever the result on Sunday, after the race we will have a beer or two.”

Neukirchner’s recovery from an awkwardly broken thumb socket, on his throttle and braking hand, will continue at Misano. A fan of the Misano circuit, despite being taken out in the Supersport race last year, he aims to improve his standing once more, without taking undue risks with the recovery of his hand.

“I’m already dreaming of Misano - Italian food, a lot of sun, a day at the beach and for sure some fast laps at Santa Monica circuit,” said the youthful Neukirchner. “Last year I had a lot of bad luck at Misano but I like the track very much. Only the chicanes are tricky and it is risky to underestimate them. A top ten position would be OK at present, a top five even better. The fracture of my right thumb is nearly healed. It is not yet perfect but it is okay. I still have some problems with the flexibility of the thumb but I don’t worry about it.”

Muggeridge, fresh from a test at Magny Cours in France, is more at home on his machine now, after some critical set-up breakthroughs for the rookie SBK rider.

“The two day test at Magny-Cours were really good for me – we got to test properly for the first time and tried a load of new things on the rear of the bike to improve grip and the driveability out of corners,” said 2004 Supersport champ Muggeridge. “We need as much grip as possible this weekend because when it’s hot in Misano, any problems you have seem to get exaggerated. The test came at just the right time of the season for us. I think the new swingarm and linkage combination we’ve gone for should work well here. I really like the place because I had my first official World Supersport race here for Castrol Honda in 1998 and I won the race last year.”

Bostrom’s season of contrasts is expected to firm up into regular top tens from now on, after a positive test session at Magny Cours.

“I’m excited about Misano but always a little nervous,” said the popular Bostrom, a returee to SBK this season. “I expect results and the biggest thing we made progress with at Magny Cours was the clutch. It’s now much better than it’s been all season. The bike’s going well now and the team is really gelling.”

Round seven of both Supersport and Superbike series will take place at a returnee World Superbike circuit, Brno, on Sunday 17 July. Brno has been used for World Superbike races on two previous occasions, in 1993 and 1996.