James Toseland may have decided to turn his back on the World Superbike Championship for next season, but Ten Kate Racing will still be around with a pair of Honda Fireblades.
SUPERBIKE 2007 Monza James Toseland Ten Kate Honda - 0
Eurosport.yahoo.com assesses the prime candidates to replace the British star as he switches to Moto GP.
Kenan Sofuoglu
Nationality: Turkish
Age: 22
2007 form: 1st in World Supersport Championship (six wins)
Should be the favourite after clinching the Supersport world title on a Ten Kate bike at Brands Hatch. A blistering season has seen him eliminate the crazy crashes that blighted him last year and blow everybody else, bar the fleeting Anthony West, into the weeds. Ten Kate though are keen to place him in a B-squad, a move he is happy to agree to. Honda though, have other ideas and, should a HRC contract come his way, he would well be off to a factory ride in 250cc GPs instead.
Ruben Xaus
Nationality: Spanish
Age: 29
2007 form: sixth in World Superbike Championship (1 win)
The Spaniard was seen deep in conversation with Ronald Ten Kate at Brands Hatch and must be considered a major contender. Despite numerous crashes this year he has worked wonders on a year-old Ducati and even broke a three-year winless spell at Valencia. Certainly quicker than current number two Roberto Rolfo, but will that be enough to net him the ride? If not, then a return to the works Ducati squad could be in the offing.
Colin Edwards
Nationality: American
Age: 33
2007 form: seventh in Moto GP World Championship
Honda's most successful rider in World Superbike history has looked a shadow of his former self since moving to Moto GP five years ago. Two world titles and 31 wins make the Texas Tornado an attractive proposition to anybody. Add to that his undoubted enthusiasm to return to the winner's circle and you have the ideal replacement for Toseland. He will not be cheap though and the exodus of championship sponsor Corona means there will be little or no pressure on series organisers FG Sport to have an American in the series.
Neil Hodgson
Nationality: British
Age: 33
2007 form: Ducati Moto GP test rider
The 2003 world champion is desperate to return to the championship after four years away and even turned down a Gresini Honda ride at the United States Grand Prix in favour of a one-off outing with a privateer AMA Superbike squad in the support race as evidence. The fact that he's the only man in the last decade to match Troy Corser for qualifying speed is a major plus. Manager Roger Burnett is the same man that stood up for Ten Kate when Gresini tried to poach Toseland earlier in the year, so they owe him a favour. Max Biaggi's form this year proves a year away is no barrier against a rider with so much natural speed.
Jonny Rea
Nationality: British
Age: 20
2007 form: 2nd in British Superbike Championship (4 wins)
To be honest, Rea's a bit of a long shot. He's contracted to HRC and so, if he remains under their wing, will either continue in British Superbikes next year or potentially be handed a plum Moto GP ride with Gresini. On the other hand, HRC blocked his Moto GP debut with KR at Donington in order to free him up for the Suzuka Eight Hours, in which he was not even used in the end. Such a knockback could have frustrated him to the extent that he could be convinced to leave.
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