WSB arrives in Europe

The WSB championship hits Europe for the first time this season this weekend with defending champ James Toseland focused on clawing his way back into the title fight.

We’ll be bringing you live updates from the circuit on Friday starting with superbike practice from 9.30am (UK time). First qualifying is on Friday afternoon (12.15pm for supersport, 1.15pm for superbike). Expect live updates on this site as they happen. Superpole starts at 3pm on Saturday and the racing is all on Sunday.

Toseland languishes in eighth place in the title fight at the moment with just 22 points so far – 69 points behind the Suzuki riding leader Troy Corser.

The Ducati 999-riding Brit won last year at Valencia and is looking for an end to the crashes and misfortunes that have dogged him so far this year when practice begins on Friday..

Toseland claimed: “Valencia is totally different to the first two tracks, it’s a lot slower and tighter, and very technical. Because of the small gaps between corners you have to be very accurate and if your concentration is off your lap time is ruined. It’s all about keeping it flowing around here because every corner leads into the next one. Obviously you’ve got to get the bike to turn well but also keep some weight on the rear to have a fine balance. The whole package is capable of winning, we’ve just got to find the right form. This is where the season starts and we’ve got to knuckle down.”

LIVE TIMINGS: Available here (external site).

Check ‘Bikes on TV’ in our News/What’s On section for when to watch.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: (after 2 of 12 rounds): Riders – 1. Corser (Suzuki) 91; 2. Kagayama (Suzuki) 85; 3. Laconi (Ducati Xerox) 54 ; 4. Vermeulen (Honda) 50; 5. Neukirchner (Honda) 37.

STATISTICS: Best lap: Hodgson (Ducati) 1m34.633s (2003); Lap record: Hodgson (Ducati) 1m35.007s (2003); Superpole: Bayliss (Ducati) 1m34.814s (2002); Race distance: 2 x 23 laps/92.115 km.