The 2010 world superbike title makes its only appearance in America from May 29-31, with the high speed, high altitude (1341 m) Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City hosting the category for its third successive year, this time on Memorial Day Monday.
The stakes will be high at the 4.907km venue, with a number of riders, including Australia‰Ûªs Troy Corser, determined to prevent Briton Leon Haslam and Italian Max Biaggi from strengthening their positions at the head of the championship table.
Although this year‰Ûªs racing has been fiercely competitive -- four of the seven manufacturers have already won races ‰ÛÒ Haslam (Suzuki) and Biaggi (Aprilia) have been the masters of consistency, finishing on the podium in nine and seven races respectively.
Unsurprisingly, Haslam leads on 222pts from Biaggi on 207, and then there‰Ûªs a big gulf back to Jonathan Rea (Honda) and privateer Carlos Checa (Ducati), who are level on 141.
After his superb performance in the last round in Kyalami, Haslam is fired up and ready to claim another pair of podiums and make up for last year's result at the circuit when he finished 10th in race one and DNF'd in race two.
"Kyalami was a tough one and I'm looking forward to Miller because it is an easier circuit to deal with," Haslam said.
"Having said that, the altitude will make our bikes feel slow and we need to get them dialled-in as soon as we can for the track and then push hard. Last year Miller was not such a good event for me, so I am really looking forward to showing what I and the Suzuki can do and hopefully get another couple of podiums.
"Max Biaggi is a threat and I want to make sure I either beat him or at least leave USA still in the championship lead. May is a busy month for us, with three races on three different continents, so it will be good to end it on top of the standings - with a good lead maybe? - and have a good break before the next round," the Brit concluded.
Corser (BMW) is in seventh position on 105pts, just one behind the struggling Ducati of Noriyuki Haga and within sight of James Toseland (Yamaha, 125).
Last year‰Ûªs round at Miller was a dismal one for Corser, who just couldn‰Ûªt keep pace with the top riders and teams. But the Wollongong (NSW) wiz knows what‰Ûªs required to turn around his fortunes in 2010.
‰ÛÏSalt Lake City lies at a higher altitude than all the other circuits on the calendar, and that has an impact on engine output,‰Û
