WSBK preview: Sepang, Malaysia, July 31-August 2

For the second time in its history, the Sepang International Circuit will host a round of the eni Superbike World Championship this weekend (July 31-August 2). Just a stone’s throw from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the venue witnessed Aprilia pair Marco Melandri and eventual world champion Sylvain Guintoli dominate in 2014, while the meeting is also remembered for the incident that took out Kawasaki's Sykes at turn two in race one, as both he and Alex Lowes (Suzuki) were cleaned up by Sykes’ wayward teammate Loris Baz.

In a very different set of circumstances, Sykes returns to Sepang second in the championship but a huge 125pts behind Kawasaki teammate Jonathan Rea. Last time out at Laguna Seca in California, it was Sykes who finished second in both races ahead of Rea, whose pair of third places ironically marked his worst weekend of the season so far.

Although 200pts are still up for grabs between now and the season-ending round in Qatar on October 18, Rea could wrap up the title in Malaysia should he score 25pts more than Sykes. Other than that, the Northern Irishman is also looking to extend his run of consecutive podium finishes —  he is currently on 19, meaning he would beat Colin Edwards’ run of 25 should he finish on the rostrum in every race up to and including Losail race one. Incidentally, if the title is clinched by Rea in Malaysia, the triumph could only occur in the second of the two races.

What about Ducati? The Italian marque collected its first double since Imola 2012 as Chaz Davies stunningly won both Laguna Seca races two weekends ago. This marked the Welshman’s own first double since Aragon 2013 and the first for the Panigale which debuted in WSBK at the start of the 2013 campaign.

Davies will be the only factory Ducati rider on-track in Malaysia as team-mate Davide Giugliano has been ruled out of the remaining rounds of the season due to the spinal injury he sustained at Laguna Seca. Extensive scans in hometown Rome revealed a fractured vertebra. The team has decided not to replace Giugliano for the upcoming event, while his seat at Jerez in September will be taken by Michele Pirro.

Also making headlines on the run-up to Sepang is Max Biaggi, as the WSBK champion of 2010 and 2012 returns for his second wildcard outing of 2015, after Misano. This time, he has prepared for the event with four days of testing at the Malaysian venue, although three of the four are reported to have been affected by rain. Nevertheless the Italian, who last raced at Sepang a decade ago in MotoGP, is looking to continue his good form following his pair of sixth places at Misano.

Elsewhere, Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils riders Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres both left Laguna disappointed, while the likes of Pata Honda World Superbike Team’s Guintoli and Michael van der Mark are looking for that extra boost to carry them to podiums. The same could be said for BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team’s Ayrton Badovini and Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes, who each took one sixth place but one race retirement away from the last round. Both van der Mark and Lowes heads directly to Sepang from the Suzuka 8 Hour race, where the former didn't finish after Casey Stoner crashed out and Lowes was fifth on a bike he shared with Aussie Josh Waters.

Spanish rookies Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven) and the aforementioned Torres already know the Sepang International Circuit, albeit on different machinery, while the venue will be new for Barni Racing Team’s Leandro Mercado; he has finished in the points this year in every race bar one – and only Jonathan Rea beats that. Santiago Barragan will not take part in the Pirelli Malaysian round as he opted for an early end to his partnership with Team Grillini Kawasaki, with Australia's Alex Phillis to replace him
for the final four rounds.

In world supersport,  Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta) continues to hunt down three-time world champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki). The gap between them is now just 20pts. Aiden Wagner will join fellow Aussie Glen Scott (AARK Racing Honda) on the grid, filling in for the injured Kieran Clarke on a Honda.