Defending WSBK champion James Toseland has had a disastrous start to the season, but could a convincing performance at Silverstone - the first of the Britons two home rounds - turn things round?

Defending WSBK champion James Toseland has had a disastrous start to the season, but could a convincing performance at Silverstone - the first of the Britons two home rounds - turn things round?

After three seasons on Silverstone's full-length grand prix circuit, this weekend's races will be contested on the new international circuit. With the new layout changes and the fast sections now replaced by more technical features, greater emphasis will be placed on the bikes' cornering ability.

Toseland has not had an easy time defending his championship title against the dominant Suzukis this season, but his two top five finishes at Monza were reminiscent of the performances that saw him clinch last season's top honours. After a run of bad luck, his Xerox Ducati team-mate, Regis Laconi, has already secured three podium finishes this season, and a win could not be too far from his thoughts.

With a record of six wins and two third place finishes from eight starts this season, 1996 champion Troy Corser has had an almost faultless start to the year’s campaign. His Alstare Suzuki team-mate, Yukio Kagayama, has been his closest rival and has already recorded a race win, in the season-opening round in Qatar.

However, as a former British Superbike rider, Kagayama has an extensive knowledge of the circuit, which he will undoubtedly put to good use on Sunday. Another rider with plenty of experience at Silverstone is Australia's Winston Ten Kate Honda rider, Chris Vermeulen.

He overcame a first leg retirement at the most recent round in Monza to record his first victory of the season, and the talented young rider will definitely be seeking to secure another race win.

Vermeulen's team-mate, Karl Muggeridge, just missed out on a podium finish at Monza, signalling a break in his run of bad luck this season.

Yamaha Italia's Andrew Pitt is fifth overall and also the top Yamaha rider in the early part of the season even though his promising early runs have usually faded by the end of the race. He is closely followed by his team-mate, Noriyuki Haga, and former MotoGP rider Norick Abe, aboard a Yamaha France R1.

Steve Martin and Garry McCoy have put in some promising qualifying and Superpole performances this season, but crashes and technical problems have ruled their Foggy Petronas machines out of many races.

The Klaffi Honda team of Pierfranceso Chili and Max Neukirchner has added points to its tally, but injuries have dimmed the team's chances of championship glory.

Renegade Koji Honda's Ben Bostrom is expecting yet more machine improvements for Silverstone, as he tries to improve on his Valencia performance, where he recorded his best finish yet, finishing in sixth place.

Original article from Car