Superbike showdown – will the Europeans come out on top?

MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child is currently at the Trazado Grand Prix Circuit, near Barcelona pitting all NINE of the world’s leading superbikes against each other.

And for the first time in living memory the Japanese manufacturers could be set to have their butts well and truly kicked.

For the first time, all of this year’s litre-class sports bikes are to be pitted against one another on track.

So, not only are the four leading Japanese bikes involved, Yamaha’s R1, Honda Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-10R and Suzuki GSX-R1000, but facing them are the new generation of European superbikes, namely: the BMW S1000RR, Aprilia RSV4R, Ducati 1198S, KTM RC8R and brand new MV Agusta F4 1000.

The question is: which will come out on top?

Well, with the BMW recording a massive 192 rear wheel bhp on the trackside dyno and the Ducati, Aprilia and new MV all already looking very quick, we could be in for a shock.

More soon.