WSBK preview: Qatar

The final round of the 2014 eni Superbike World Championship takes place under lights at the Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar from October 31 until November 2 – a first for the 27-year-old series.

Reigning champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) leads the standings with a 12pt margin over Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia), with both having previous experience at the circuit.

While those two will square off for the ultimate prize, third place in the standings is also at stake. Marco Melandri (Aprilia), who has won four of the last six races, is aiming to keep up the momentum to finish the season on the highest possible note. He is trailed by Jonathan Rea (Honda), who is 11pts behind, and by Loris Baz (Kawasaki), 19pts adrift.

Toni Elias (Aprilia) is the world superbike rider with the most experience in racing under floodlights at Losail, having contested the night version of the Qatari Grand Prix from the first running in 2008 up to and including last year.

This will be the last chance of the 2014 season for Davide Giugliano and Chaz Davies (both Ducati) to take a first win aboard their 1199 Panigale Rs. The two riders, who share a total of six podiums this year, will do their best to make this happen before focusing on next season, which will see them racing together again in “Ducati red” colours.

Eugene Laverty and Alex Lowes will contest their last event as teammates at Suzuki, with the goal of returning onto the podium before the season draws to a close. With Lowes officially confirmed for another season with the English team, Laverty is looking to conclude his racing year the same way it started off for him with victory before switching to MotoGP in 2015. Back in 2009 the Irishman took his maiden world supersport win in Qatar.

MV Agusta (Claudio Corti) and EBR (Geoff May and Aaron Yates) will give their all for an encouraging result in the last event of the year, hoping to gain some positives after a challenging rookie season in the series.

David Salom (Kawasaki) enters the season finale as the firm favourite to win the first ever EVO title given the 30pt advantage he has on Niccolò Canepa (Ducati). Many riders including Frenchmen Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad) and Jeremy Guarnoni (Kawasaki), as well as South African Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki) will hope to end their season on a high.

Australian Alex Cudlin will replace the injured Luca Scassa at Team Pedercini Kawasaki. The 28-year-old from Sydney has vast experience of Losail, having been a regular in the Qatar Superbike Championship where he is a four-time champion. Cudlin will be joined by compatriot Bryan Staring (Kawasaki).