The appeal of superbikes is that they're finely-tuned versions of regular road-going machines, with four-cylinder 1,000cc engines delivering extraordinary power. Unlike Formula 1, it's easier to relate to the kind of bike that might zoom past you in the outside lane of the M4. With last year's winner Ryuichi Kiyonari off to the world stage, a number of riders are in contention to claim the number one plate. For the first time ever, the grid positions are known in advance as qualifying had been completed before the snow arrived on April 6 and forced the meeting to be postponed. Lining up on pole is Shane Byrne on his Airwaves Ducati, narrowly ahead of Cal Crutchlow on the first of the HM Plant Hondas. Next is the Yamaha of Karl Harris, with Leon Haslam on the other HM Plant Honda completing the front row. Whether you're a dedicated petrolhead or a casual motorsports fan, two-wheeled action doesn't come much better than this. Andrew Shields
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