Preview - From the Aussie perspective

Australian Kevin Curtain is a man on a mission in the final round of the 2006 Superbike World Championship at Magny-Cours (France) this Sunday.

Just one week after seeing compatriot Troy Bayliss’ clinch his second Superbike title at Imola, all the spotlight is now on the evergreen Curtain (Yamaha YZF0R6) as he attempts to dethrone Frenchman Sebastien Charpentier (Honda CBR600RR) in the Supersport class.

Curtain holds all the aces in the two-way battle, and leads Charpentier by a sizeable 18pts (187 to 169). In real terms, even if Charpentier wins in front of his home crowd, Curtain can still finish as low as eighth and still claim the title.

Of course, Curtain’s stellar form so far in 2006 would not warrant such a mediocre result, and only an inexplicable turn of events will prevent the 40-year-old from claiming the No. 1 plate.

“I'm disappointed that I couldn't run with Sebastien last weekend, but if you'd told me at the start of the season that we'd be going to the final race with an 18pt lead I'd have taken it like a shot,” said Curtain. We’ve been doing a professional job all season, and we've now got to do more of the same at Magny-Cours.

“I don’t really have a grand plan on Sunday. I’m going to try and not think about the championship. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, which is collecting the points and hopefully winning the series.”

Curtain finished second at Magny-Cours in 2005 behind teammate Broc Parkes (YZF-R6), who will again be one to watch on Sunday – notwithstanding that he may have to surrender to the needs of his countryman if the situation arises.

Parkes, who only returned to action at Imola from serious injuries sustained at Assen on September 3, is currently on 129pts, eight behind in-form Turkish rider Kenan Sofuoglu (CBR600RR, 137.).

In World Superbike, Bayliss’ crowning on his factory Ducati 999F06 has rendered Magny-Cours a ‘dead’ rubber, although the battle for second place is still very much alive between 2004 world Champion James Toseland (Honda CBR1000RR) and Japan’s Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha YZF-R1).

The pendulum swung back in favour of Toseland (295pts) at Imola, which is something that Haga (293) will be looking to redress.

On past form at Magny-Cours, the duo cannot be separated, having both finished on the podium in three of the last four races -- even sharing wins in 2004.

Meanwhile, Australian Andrew Pitt (YZF-R1, 239pts) and Brazil’s Alex Barros (CBR1000RR, 231) will make sure the battle for fourth position is a beauty, with deposed world champion Troy Corser (Suzuki GSX-R1000, 218) a chance to make it a three-way battle if the cards fall his way.

Of the other Australians, Steve Martin (FP1) will be making his final appearance in Petronas colours before going the way of Honda next year, which is the same corner where Josh Brookes is heading.

Brookes will compete on a ZX-10R for the last time at Magny-Cours before linking back up with the world’s biggest manufacturer -- the same marque which took him to the Superbike and Supersport double in Australia in 2005.

Finally, Karl Muggeridge (CBR1000RR) is a double World Supersport winner at Magny-Cours, and will be going all out to hit pay dirt in what’s rumoured to be his last appearance for the all-conquering Ten Kate team.

CURRENT WORLD SUPERBIKE STANDINGS (after 11 of 12 rounds):
1 Troy Bayliss, Australia, Ducati 393
2 James Toseland, Great Britain, Honda 295
3 Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Yamaha 293
4 Andrew Pitt, Australia, Yamaha 239
5 Alex Barros, Brazil, Honda 231
6 Troy Corser, Australia, Suzuki 218
7 Yukio Kagayama, Japan, Suzuki 193
8 Lorenzo Lanzi, Italy, Ducati 152
9 Chris Walker, Great Britain, Kawasaki 140
10 Fonsi Nieto, Spain, Kawasaki 139
12 Karl Muggeridge, Australia, Honda 113
20 Steve Martin, Australia, Petronas 19
31 Josh Brookes, Australia, Kawasaki 2

CURRENT WORLD SUPERSPORT STANDINGS (after 11 of 12 rounds):
1 Kevin Curtain, Australia, Yamaha 187
2 Sebastien Charpentier, France, Honda 169
3 Kenan Sofuoglu, Turkey, Honda 137
4 Broc Parkes, Australia, Yamaha 129
5 Robbin Harms, Denmark, Honda 107