The 2010 World Supersport season kicks off this weekend in Phillip Island, Australia. The World SuperSport Championships are typically a showcase for Honda and their CBR600RR, but last year Carl Crutchlow ripped the trophy from Honda’s hands on top of his Yamaha YZF R1.
Crutchlow won’t be back to defend his title, and neither will Yamaha. Both the rider and the manufacturer have graduated in class to the World Superbike Championship, leaving a field of just 17 riders to participate in the WSS, and only three manufacturers.
Honda dominates the race again this year by sheer numbers. Honda’s CBR600RR will be ridden by 11 of the 17 riders. It’s a safe bet that Honda will walk away with the manufacturers title this year, but the individual winner might not be a Honda Rider.
If anyone is going to overtake Honda this year, it is going to be Joan Lascorz. Lascorz is 
young and has climbed his way up the leader board the last couple of years. Last year, he rode his Kawasaki ZX-R to fourth place, and is a solid contender this year.
He will have to overtake both former champion Kenan Sofuoglu and Eugene Laverty, who narrowly missed the top spot on the podium last year to Crutchlow.
Four rookies will also try their hand at WSS racing, including WSS’s first full time woman racer, Paola Cazzola.
RIDER - TEAM - BIKE
4. Gino Rea - Intermoto Czech - Honda CBr600RR
5. Alexander Lundh - Cresto Guide Racing Team - Honda CBR600RR
7. Chaz Davies - ParkinGO Triumph BE1 - Triumph Daytona 675
9. Danilo Dell'Omo - Kuja Racing - Honda CBR600RR
16. Sèbastien Charpentier - ParkinGO Triumph BE1 - Triumph Daytona 675
25. David Salom - ParkinGO BE1 Triumph - Triumph Daytona 675
26. Joan Lascorz - Kawasaki Motocard.com - Kawasaki ZX-6R
33. Paola Cazzola - Kuja Racing - Honda CBR600RR
37. Katsuaki Fujiwara - Kawasaki Motocard.com - Kawasaki ZX-6R
40. Jason DiSalvo - ParkinGO BE1 Triumph - Triumph Daytona 675
50. Eugene Laverty - Parkalgar Honda - Honda CBR600RR
51. Michele Pirro - HANNspree Ten Kate Honda - Honda CBR600RR
54. Kenan Sofuoglu - HANNspree Ten Kate Honda - Honda CBR600RR
55. Massimo Roccoli - Intermoto Czech - Honda CBR600RR
99. Fabien Foret -Team Lorenzini by Leoni - Kawasaki ZX-6R
117. Miguel Praia - Parkalgar Honda - Honda CBR600RR
127. Robbin Harms - Harms Benjan Racing - Honda CBR600RR
901. TBA - Harms Benjan Racing - Honda CBR600RR
The races at Phillip Island will be aired on SPEED at 2 p.m. (EST) March 2 and 3.
