With the 2007 season seeming as though it's only just finished, we turn our eyes toward the 2008 championship, which is hurtling towards us like a many wheeled, multi engined freight train. Or something. And there have been some major changes in the way things are going to happen and the places they're happening in.

The biggest piece of news, that's probably no news at all, is that Ducati have got their way and been allowed to run the 1098 this year. In fact there's a 1200cc limit for twins, apparently to give them a sporting chance against the more powerful four cylinder bikes. Cynics might suggest that, actually, the 999 is still plenty fast enough as demonstrated by Messrs Bayliss and Xaus last season, and that the change in regs is nothing more than a way of making sure the Italian factory retain their firmly tight grip on the Italian run series. Personally I'd rather have seen the four cylinder bikes made smaller instead as this would have had a more beneficial effect on road bikes. After all, everyone says that litre bikes are really too fast for the road so why not put 750s back in the limelight? But what do I know. One side effect of the capacity hike for twins is that BMW are likely to enter the fray in 2009 with, presumably, their HP2. And Buell could well come and play as well, adding some much needed variety.

The other big change is the inclusion of some new circuits as well as the return of an old favourite. Silverstone is no longer on the calendar, which is a shame for British fans but probably, in fairness, not a great loss as it's not really a bike circuit. And Lausitzring has, at last, been dropped, which will upset nobody at all. Apart from the locals, of course. Donington makes a welcome return as a permanent fixture, replacing Silverstone as the British round (Brands hatch is, of course, the European round as it wouldn't be on for us to have two rounds in the UK) while the German round has returned to The Nurburgring, though sadly only the new circuit rather than the Nordschleife (now that would be worth seeing) after a prolonged absence. New circuits include a trip to the United States for a round at Miller Motorsport in Salt Lake City. It's a wonderful looking circuit but a total pain to get to as nobody seems to fly there direct from the UK. Hopefully we'll work something out, though a weekend may be a bit much, especially as I'd expect to spend about five hours trying to get my cameras through security. We've also got a trip to Sentul in Indonesia on the cards, while the final round of the rather extended series now takes place in Portimao on the Algarve in Portugal, which should be interesting as the circuit is currently little more than a large number of wooden pegs in the ground.

The calendar, as of 20th January 2008, reads as follows:

February 23rd is the opening round at Losail, Qatar. That's a Saturday, remember.

March 2nd is Philip Island, Australia. Sunday but half a day ahead of Europe.

April 6th is the first European round, as usual in Valencia, Spain.

April 27th is in Assen, Holland.

May 11th and back to the other cathedral of speed, Monza in Italy.

1st June is Salt Lake City in the USA, and if anyone fancies covering it for us then please do e-mail me.

15th June we return to the Nurburgring for the first time since 1999, which is a Good Thing.

29th June we're in Italy again, (though it's technically San Marino) for the Misano round.

20th July is Brno in the Czech Republic. Fantastic circuit, lovely people, go there if you can.

3rd August is our home round at Brands Hatch.

7th September is in the UK again, this time at Donington. It'll rain.

21st September we're in Italy again for Vallelunga. Well, there has to be one round that everyone hates...

5th October is Magny Cours in France. The final round for the last few years, but now there are two more to go.

12th October is a new round at Sentul, Indonesia, and again if you fancy covering it then e-mail me now.

2nd November is the final round at Portimao, Portugal.

That's fifteen rounds, with eleven in Europe. But at least this time they're a decent time apart, with no back to back races at all.

As far as teams and riders are concerned, there have been quite a few changes from last year. James Toseland, of course, has left to try his luck in the MotoGP world. But James' departure, while it means that there are no British riders in the championship at all this year, has been tempered by some interesting new talent coming in. Ten Kate are fielding two teams this year, with Carlos Checa coming in from MotoGP to ride alongside British Superbike champion Ryuichi Kiyonari in their lead team and 2007 Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu in the junior team. Ex SBK contender and British Superbike champion Gregorio Lavilla comes back on a Paul Bird Fireblade, while Carlos' little brother David joins from the endurance world, riding a GMT Yamaha R1 alongside his endurance team-mate Sebastien Gimbert. Also in from MotoGP, Makoto Tamada brings his considerable talent to the PSG Kawasaki team.

2 Haga - Stays at Yamaha Italia for another crack at the title
3 Biaggi - Joins Sterilgarda Ducati after everyone thought he was going back to MotoGP
4 Bayliss - Stays with Xerox Ducati and has to be hot favourite for the title on the 1098
5 Corser - Stays with Yamaha Italia to build on his strong end of season performance
6 Xaus - Stays at Sterilgarda Ducati which should be an interesting dynamic with Biaggi
7 Lanzi - Still on a Ducati but now it's the customer spec RG Racing bike instead
8 Rolfo - Stays with Ten Kate but in their second team
9 Neukirchner - Stays with Alstare Suzuki and should be on closer to works machinery now
10 Laconi - Stays at Kawasaki

Team lineups, as far as we can tell today, are:

Yamaha Motor Italia (YZF R1)
11 Troy Corser AUS
41 Noriyuki Haga JPN

Haga and Corser work well together and the R1 got stronger and stronger through the season. The Australian double world champion took a while to get dialled in to the Yamaha but now he's used to it this year should be good. Haga, of course, nearly lifted the title in 2007 and must be a strong contender for this year.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda (CBR1000RR)
#7 Carlos Checa ESP
#23 Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN

Checa is a good rider but may take a while to adjust to a Superbike. Like Biaggi didn't last year. Kiyo, meantime, is just crazy fast and if he can learn the courses and stay on the bike then he's going to be up there from the beginning.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr (CBR1000RR)
#54 Kenan Sofuoglu TUR

Superglue is one of the nicest blokes you could meet, he's totally disciplined and as fast as anything. Transition to superbikes will either be the making or the breaking of him, but he'll certainly be consistent.

Ducati Xerox Team (1098R)
#21 Troy Bayliss AUS
#84 Michel Fabrizio ITA

Bayliss has to be hot favourite with a bigger engine and rules bent in favour of the Italian factory again. But don't rule out Fabrizio, who is very, very fast on his day.

Team Alstare Suzuki (GSX-R1000 K8)
#76 Max Neukirchner GER
#10 Fonsi Nieto ESP
#34 Yukio Kagayama JPN

Kagayama had a torrid time last year, while Neukirchner took his customer spec bike into the top ten. Nieto failed to shine on the Kawasaki but always looks good and brought lots of sponsorship with him. There's no doubt the bike will be very fast, possibly the quickest out there, but will these three be able to use it?

Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse (ZX 10R)
#55 Régis Laconi FRA
#100 Makoto Tamada JPN

Tamada is a hell of a rider and stands a good chance of making Laconi look a little silly. But maybe some serious competition, something lacking since Chris Walker left the team, is exactly what the Frenchman needs to revive his fortunes.

Sterilgarda Go Eleven (1098R)
#3 Max Biaggi ITA
#111 Ruben Xaus ESP

Two race winners, two huge talents and two guys about as different as you could get. Enormous, lanky and laid back Xaus alongside diminutive and highly strung Biaggi. Well at least they'll never get their bikes mixed up - I doubt Biaggi could reach Xaus' handlebars...

D.F. Racing (CBR1000RR)
#31 Karl Muggeridge AUS
#83 Russell Holland AUS

Muggas followed his manager when Bertocchi came back to SBK as team boss, while Holland is a rookie from the Australian championship. DFX have had a difficult time, with mechanical and organisational problems, so hopefully they've now got their act together and can compete properly this year.

Alto Evolution Honda (CBR1000RR)
#22 Luca Morelli ITA
#88 Shuhei Aoyama JPN

With two new signings, both bringing factory support with them, Alto Evolution are confident that 2008 will be their year. Certainly starting with a full team and actually getting to do some testing is a significant improvement over last year. Marco Nicotari has worked with Japanese riders before, with some success, while Morelli is familar with the Honda after spending last season pushing his DFX bike into the pits at various circuits.

YZF Yamaha (YZF R1)
#38 Shinichi Nakatomi JPN

Shinichi is a really nice guy and is consistent and smooth. Success has so far been elusive for him, but maybe this year will be better.

Team Pedercini (ZX 10R)
#13 Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA
#86 Ayrton Badovini ITA

Iannuzzo is quick when it's his time, and the bikes are always well prepared. Expect a couple of upsets from this team, especially if the weather is iffy.

Guandalini Racing by Grifo's (1098R)
#96 Jakub Smrz CZE

Smrz worked wonders last season, hopefully now he'll do better still.

Grillini Racing Team (YZF R1)
#77 Loic Napoleone FRA

New rider, new team, what else can I say?

Hannspree Honda Althea (CBR1000RR)
#44 Roberto Rolfo ITA

Roby Rolfo didn't do that well in 2007 but he managed to keep Hannspree on board. He'll either go some way toward making up for last year (and proving a point) or he'll sink without trace. Difficult one to call.

Paul Bird Motorsport (CBR1000RR)
#36 Gregorio Lavilla ESP

Greg is a hugely talented and popular guy, and Paul Bord Motorsport are about as professional an outfit as you'll get, anywhere. I'd be very surprised if he stayed outside the top ten.

R.G.Team (1098R)
#57 Lorenzo Lanzi ITA

Lanzi is another rider who was given the poison chalice of the best bike on the grid and failed to capitalise on it. His performance on the Xerox Ducati was disappointing, so like Rolfo he has a huge amount to prove. Nice bloke, though.

Yamaha France - GMT 94 (YZF R1)
#94 David Checa ESP
#194 Sébastien Gimbert FRA

Fresh from the World Endurance Chasmpionship, it will be interesting to see how the riders and team adapt to the very different rigours of short circuit racing. There's no shortage of talent there, though, and again if the weather is bad you should expect their consistency and reliability to pay off.

So there we are. No predictions really, just the facts. Predictions get left to those with crystal balls...

SB