Honda just won the inaugural season of the MotoGP championship with Valentino Rossi, and has the opportunity this weekend at Imola to win the last World Superbike championship of the “displacement discrepancy” era with Colin Edwards. Before next year’s World Superbike championship allows 1000cc machines of various engine configurations (rather than permitting only V-twins of this displacement, currently), Honda can grab one last title. Indeed, rumors indicate Honda may not field an official WSB team next year.
What makes this weekend special is the single point separating Honda’s Colin Edwards and Ducati’s Troy Bayliss, both former champions (actually, Bayliss is the reigning champion, at least until the end of this weekend).
Edwards is the one on a tear, recently, having won seven straight races, and obviously piloting a much improved Honda V-twin. Indeed, early qualifying indicates Edwards will be the man to beat this weekend. Do not count Troy Bayliss out, however, as Bayliss is as determined a fighter as you will find on two wheels, and he knows that crashing out will not drop him below second place in the championship. Indeed, “crash or win” will likely be the attitude of both riders.
