In anticipation of the WSBK 2006 season opener at Qatar, I went through my vast collection of recorded motorcycle races to revisit the 2001 World Superbike season and Troy Bayliss' awe-inspiring rise to dominance that year. After watching a few old races, I reasoned that with Bayliss returning to WSBK from MotoGP in 2006 to battle with Corser, Haga, and Toseland, this should be one of the most exciting seasons ever. If the first two races were any indication, I was right on the money. Bayliss is in the points lead with two podium finishes, but only by a narrow margin.

At any rate, there's no question that WSBK will be the best roadracing series to watch this year. There is an excellent bunch of racers on much-improved machines. Here's the grid:

1 - Corser Troy/Suzuki GSXR1000 K6
3 - Abe Norick/Yamaha YZF R1
4 - Barros Alex/Honda CBR 1000RR
7 - Chili Pierfrancesco/Honda CBR 1000RR
8 - Clementi Ivan/Ducati 999 RS
9 - Walker Chris/Kawasaki ZX10R
10 - Nieto Fonsi/Kawasaki ZX10R
11 - Xaus Ruben/Ducati 999 F05
13 - Iannuzzo Vittorio/Suzuki GSXR1000 K6
15 - Foret Fabien/Suzuki GSXR1000 K6
16 - Gimbert Sebastien/Yamaha YZF R1
18 - Jones Craig/Petronas FP1
19 - Pedercini Lucio/Ducati 999 RS
20 - Borciani Marco/Ducati 999 F05
21 - Bayliss Troy/Ducati 999 F06
31 - Muggeridge Karl/Honda CBR 1000RR
38 - Nakatomi Shinichi/Yamaha YZF R1
41 - Haga Noriyuki/Yamaha YZF R1
44 - Rolfo Roberto/Ducati 999 F05
52 - Toseland James /Honda CBR 1000RR
55 - Laconi Régis/Kawasaki ZX10R
57 - Lanzi Lorenzo/Ducati 999 F06
71 - Kagayama Yukio/Suzuki GSXR1000 K6
76 - Neukirchner Max/Ducati 999 RS
84 - Fabrizio Michel/Honda CBR 1000RR
88 - Pitt Andrew/Yamaha YZF R1
99 - Martin Steve/Petronas FP1
116 - Battaini Franco/Kawasaki ZX10R