The 2010 champion had a difficult year in 2011, finishing third in the championship after just two wins all season.

But the 40-year-old, in his fourth season with Aprilia, has claimed that he is more determined than ever to reclaim his 2010 crown.

“It doesn’t matter how many seasons we have under our belts and how many titles we’ve won,” he claimed. “At the beginning of a new season I am always motivated to the maximum. Besides that, I must say that for 2012 I am even more focused on the task ahead, after what happened last year.

“I’m sure we can still play an important part in this Championship but at the same time I am aware of the fact that the level of competition, with the many team changes among my rivals, has increased even more. We’ll have to work hard and never stop growing, but I can assure you that this year once again, everyone will have to deal with us.”

Xaus, now Bimota’s new Sporting Director, said that the Italian manufacturer is considering a return to World Superbikes, starting with some wildcard appearances in 2013 followed by a full-time entry from 2014.

“We are developing a bike for 2013, when they should change the rules which should lean towards more stock specs,” he told Motoblog.it at the Motorbike Expo in Verona.

“We don’t know if we’d start immediately with a full time entry or if we’ll just-wild card a few times in 2013 and then compete full time in 2014. We have to see first if we’re competitive, and then there’s the topic regarding sponsors, if we were to have a partner with a lot of capital we could start right away and gradually develop the bike, but we will be there.”

Xaus is taking a hands-on roll in the development of Bimota’s DB8 motorcycle, as well as Bimota’s Moto2 project, the HB4.

Rea and new teammate Hiroshi Aoyama both took to the Australian track, which will host the season opener next month, for a three day test as they prepare for an assault on the championship in 2012.

The team took a host of new chassis and suspension components to test in Australia and continued the development of its electronic ride-by-wire throttle system, introduced in the second half of the 2011 World Superbike campaign.

Rea starts his fourth season on the Fireblade and, following an injury-blighted 2011, the 24-year-old Northern Irishman is looking forward to a consistent title challenge this year.

“We’ve had a good three days, completed a lot of laps and tested a whole heap of new parts,” said Rea. “We’ve also done quite a few long runs and race simulations which, to be honest, was really good - for the simulation we did today, we even used the lights!

“The full race-run allows us to see exactly where we are, even though the disadvantage of testing on your own is that you’ve got no-one to measure yourself against. But the whole team is working really well and I’m really enjoying riding the bike again.

“Step-by-step we’re making things better and, although when you test this many parts you can end up going round in circles, I think we’ve got a bike with a good base setting to go into the 2012 season with.”

Although no lap times were released by the team, manager Ronald ten Kate was pleased with the progress made.

“We had high track temperatures here, which were something we struggled with during last year’s event, so it was a very useful test,” he added. “The new chassis and suspension parts that we brought here were all working well and we were able to reconfirm some of the parts we tested before.

“The overall package as part of the 2012 Fireblade is definitely a step forward and the new fairing has improved stability. It was properly tested too, because there was a strong wind coming up the straight on the first day!

Denning, who will lead the Crescent-Yoshimura backed Suzuki World Superbike Team following the collapse of the Suzuki MotoGP team, believes that the partnership of John Hopkins and Leon Camier can challenge for podiums in their first season in WSB.

Crescent Suzuki will make their WSB debut in 2012 after stepping up from British Superbikes and Denning has high hopes.

When asked if his team could challenge for podiums, he replied: “A simple straightforward question deserves a similar answer - Yes!

“The 2012 GSX-R will look pretty much the same [to the 2011 BSB bike] but very few components will be shared - the whole bike has been seriously updated. Yoshimura is working very hard on the motor and we are sharing a lot of development ideas together; the suspension and brakes are all new, the Motec electronics package is updated and every single detail on the GSX-R is being carefully considered.

“The Suzuki is a great all-round package - we have to make sure we allow the riders to use 100% of the bike’s abilities by refining the GSX-R to be as good as it can be.”

Denning is also confident that Hopkins and Camier will form a strong partnership, despite the former still recovering from a finger injury.

“I guess the finger will never be perfect but it’s good enough to race a motorcycle,” Denning added.
“John went through a lot last year - it was a minor injury that turned into a real nightmare. He’s just started properly training now - after a horrible month of extremely strong antibiotics - but his base fitness levels are good enough that he’ll bounce back quickly. I have no concerns - I do expect his fitness level to improve race by race - but it will be tough to be at a genuine 100% for Philip Island.”

Quarmby, 20, will finished 18^th in the 2011 WSS championship with Suriano Racing Truimph, has signed up with the Algarve-based PTR Honda for 2012 - and is already eyeing podium finishes next season.

He will join the team for a two-day test at Almeria in Spain on 19^th and 20^th January before going to Phillip Island in Australia for testing before the opening round of the Championship at the same track on 26^th February.

“I just wanted to say a big thank you to PTR for organizing a once in a life time opportunity to ride for them in 2012,” said Quarmby. “I am extremely excited about the opportunity to represent such an awesome team and I know that I will be on that podium throughout the entire season.

“My aim for 2012 is to become more a part of the WSBK family and now that I have got a year under my belt with all the track knowledge and new friends, things are looking really awesome - I cannot wait for first testing in Almeria.”

Simon Buckmaster, PTR Honda Team Manager, added: “We spoke with Ronan before 2011 and have kept in contact since. I am very happy that we have signed to work together in 2012 and am sure Ronan will be on the pace from the start of the season.

“We have a test at Almeria on the 19th and 20th of January and we will be working with Ronan to get him in the best shape ahead of the official tests in Philip Island in February.  I think Ronan’s wish to get on the podium in 2012 will come to fruition sooner rather than later.  We have a young and very talented line up for 2012 and Ronan just adds more of this to our team.”

The former World Champion is looking to replace former team manger Francesco Guidotti and crew chief Giovanni Sandi, as well as some mechanics, who are all heading for pastures new in 2012.

Guidotti is said to be joining Pramac in MotoGP, while the others are rumoured to be involved in Giampiero Sacchi’s proposed Ioda Racing CRT MotoGP project.

Biaggi, who has recently been in New York to present the 2012 Pirelli calendar, then travelled to Qatar for an Aprilia promotional event, is looking to have his replacements in place before Christmas.

He wrote on his official website: “Now I expect the most important task before Christmas, to create with [Aprilia's Gigi] Dall Igna, my new team in order to attack the 2012 World Championship.”

Davies, who claimed the WSS title with Yamaha thanks to race wins at Assen, Monza, Aragon, Silverstone, the Nurburgring and Portimao.

In an awards ceremony at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, Davies was named as the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year, following in the footsteps of soccer stars Gareth Bale and Ryan Giggs, rugby legend Shane Williams and boxing champion Joe Calzaghe in recent years.

The surprised 24-year-old, who is in California at the moment, reacted to the news on his official Twitter page @chazdavies:

“Can’t believe that…. BBC WALES SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2011!!!!!! Thanks everyone for your vote, did no way expect that result!

“Competing against hugely talented athletes, footballers, rugby players etc, us bike racers usually don’t get or even expect to be able to compete for such an accolade. Thank you the public for helping put bike racing on the map a little bit more :-)

“And thank you BBC Wales for giving us this chance! Lunch time now here in California…. pizza on me!”

Davies, a former 125 and 250GP rider, is only the second British winner of the World Supersport title, after Englishman Cal Crutchlow in 2009.

Martin, 26, from Yeovil in Somerset, is a proven front runner in the British Superbike Championship with a pole position and fourth place finish to his credit while riding for Riders Ducati. He has British Supersport experience and recently finished second at the Macau GP in 2011.

Motorcycle retail chain Riders will continue to back Martin in 2012 as it joins forces with front running British based team PTR Honda - the organisation behind the successful Parkalgar Honda and Bogdanka Honda race teams (runner-up in the World Championship in 2009 and 2010).

Martin will get his first outing on his PTR Honda early in the New Year at a private test in Europe before a further test at Philip Island in Australia ahead of the opening round of the 2012 Championship at the same circuit on 26th February.

“I am over the moon to have 2012 all sorted,” said Jessop. “I said at the end of the 2011 season my objective was to get into the World Championship and Supersport was my best opportunity.

“I sat down with my team and Riders and we wanted a squad at the sharp end of the Championship so I would know I had a good bike and proven package. The British Based PTR team was my number one choice and to get a ride with them was brilliant - it’s not often that a racer gets his first choice so I can honestly say I could not be happier.

“There is no expectations at the moment but I will put plenty of pressure on myself as the season approaches. I just need to go testing and complete loads of laps and learn the bike and develop my relationship with the team. It is all new to me and I need to go out there and get up to pace.

“Having a fast team mate like Sam Lowes on the same PTR Honda will be excellent. I enjoyed a bit of craic with Sam at Magny Cours this year when I was a wild card entry and he was helping me out then with some advice and ideas. That’s a big help and a fantastic support from him and the team. I can’t wait to get riding.”

PTR Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster is delighted to have Martin on the team. He said: “Martin has speed, talent and ability. PTR has the team, bike and experience at World Championship level. It is a big step up for Martin but he is determined to be a success and we will do all we can to help him reach his potential.”

Camier and the Crescent Suzuki team had to contend with front brake issues on the first day in Portugal but those issues were soon overcome, allowing Camier and stand-in rider Alastair Seeley to put the GSX-R1000 through its paces.

The final day threw some further challenges at Camier’s side of the garage, but Camier and the team steadily improved to post a best lap time of 1:43:7 on race tyres, just 1 second off leader Eugene Laverty’s best lap set on his Aprilia. Due to a setting sun and dwindling track temperatures, Camier was not able to post a faster lap-time on soft tyres.

“Unfortunately we had a few issues throughout the test, which can easily happen with new parts and systems, but I must say I really like the initial feel of the bike,” said Camier. “The first day was pretty much lost due to the front brake problem and we had some issues with the new electronics - so there is still a lot to try out still with the chassis to find the exactly right set-up for me.

“But at least we now know what needs to be done and we can head in the right direction at the next test, where I hope to get a lot more time out on track to find my ideal setting and post some faster lap times.”

Recently-crowned British Supersport Champion Alastair Seeley, standing in as test rider for John Hopkins as the Californian recovers from hand surgery, was able to work through a huge range of electronic development strategies. On his first visit to the circuit and his first ride on the Crescent GSX-R1000 Suzuki, Seeley posted an impressive 1.43.5 on the final day of testing.

The British rider is looking to re-establish himself as one of the top WSB riders next season, after a difficult year in 2011. In a year where Haslam was expected to make a real push for the championship, after missing out narrowly in 2010, Haslam managed just three podium finishes last year as he finished fifth in the championship, some way behind fourth placed Eugene Laverty.

But in the first pre-season test in Portimão, Haslam was impressed as he put the 2012 BMW through its paces, posting the fastest lap on the first two days of testing.

“I am very happy. It was very good to come back to Portimão and set constantly quick lap times on this track, on which we were not so competitive last season,” said BMW Motorrad factory rider Leon Haslam. “This shows that we have taken a really good step forward, particularly in regard to the engine characteristic and the electronics. We also found very good settings with the new chassis. The team will now use the coming two months to prepare everything for Australia.”

The new engine spec, the modified BMW electronics, new swingarm and changes in the aerodynamics, weight distribution and ergonomics allowed the Derby man to lap at a positive pace throughout the test. Haslam was quickest in the first two days, setting a best time of 1:43.1 on race tyres and 1:42.2 on qualifying tyres.

“If we continue in this direction, everything is looking good for Phillip Island. I will now return to England and have an intensive fitness programme with my trainer lined up for December and January. And I am really excited about the birth of our first child very soon.”