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Superbike hero Aaron Slight and the world championship circus head for sun-baked Spain this week for their first ever event at Valencia.
The 4.75km circuit, round eight of the title chase, lies on Spain\'s eastern coast south of Barcelona about 325km from Madrid.
It poses a fascinating challenge with its short straights and tight curves rewarding the pulling power of the one-litre V twins which now predominate in world superbikes.
After the Ducati twin ruled the roost through the late 90s, Slight\'s Castrol Honda outfit has now introduced its own version in the VTR SP1 while Aprilia has shot to prominence with Australian Troy Corser winning last week\'s round at Misano.
History will be made as the first superbike lap records and superpole qualifying times are set over three days of racing starting tomorrow.
Comeback hero Slight is looking for better luck than last weekend when he was punched out from behind by his own teammate Colin Edwards (USA) then run off the track by another crash.
Currently a lowly 10th in the championship after missing the early rounds following his brain surgery, the plucky Kiwi expat has abandoned all thought of a title run this season. But at 34 he says he still has plenty of time to claim the championship which has been his goal since 1993.
World Superbike championship points after seven of 13 rounds:
1 Edwards 208,
2 Corser 170,
3 Pier-Francesco Chili, Italy (Suzuki) 162,
4 Nori Haga (Japan) Yamaha 146,
5 Akira Yanagawa, Japan (Kawasaki) 120,
6 Troy Bayliss (Ducati) Australia 104,
7 Ben Bostrom (Ducati) USA 84,
8 Fujiwara (Suzuki) Japan 79,
9 Gregorio Lavilla, Spain (Kawasaki) 71,
10 Slight 65.
