Five race winners in 2009 - how many will there be in 2010?

Despite a grid full of world class riders and arguably the most competitive season in WSB history there were only five race winners in the 2009. American sensation and new champions Ben Spies was largely responsible for there only being a handful of race winners thanks to his 50% race to win strike rate that saw him victor in 14 races.

Title rival Noriyuki Haga was next up with eight, with Xerox Ducati team-mate Michel Fabrizio claiming three wins, Brit Jonathan Rea took two wins and Aprilia mounted Max Biaggi one win at Brno.

The number of race winners was the joint lowest since 2002 when Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards dominated the season taking every race win between them apart from one, which was won by Makoto Tamada in Japan.

In 2008 the series boasted eight winners despite Troy Bayliss’ dominance with wins for Haga, Ryuichi Kiyonari, Carlos Checa, Max Neukirchner, Fonsi Nieto, Lorenzo Lanzi and Ruben Xaus.

With seven factory teams and 14 factory riders in 2010, next year promises to be the most hotly contested and unpredictable championship for years.

 

What do you think? Were you surprised at the small number of race winners in 2009? How many race winners will there be in 2010 and who will they be?