Gregorio Lavilla 2003 on the Corona Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 – the Spaniard drove a very strong season in the first year when 4-cylinder bikes were allowed to have 1000 cc. Before that, these engines were only allowed to have a displacement of 750 cc, while the V2 Ducatis and Aprilias were allowed to compete with a full liter (© WorldSBK).

1st WorldSBK season 1988 (translations coming soon)

For the first half of the year see: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-history-part-1/?lang=en

Fred Merkel (Rumi Honda Honda VFR 750 RC 30) – the first WorldSBK world champion in history.

For the second half of the year see: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-history-part-2/?lang=en

The second WorldSBK season in 1989

For the first half of the year see: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-3/

Raymond Roche – a fast man from France had found his way into WorldSBK and was very successful right away. The Frenchman even got the most victories in WorldSBK’s 2nd year for Ducati (© WorldSBK).

For the second half of the year see: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-4/

The 3rd WorldSBK season in 1990

For the first half of the year: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-5/

Fabrizio Pirovano (Yamaha FZR750R) – the best Yamaha rider of the first WorldSBK years (© WorldSBK).

For the second half of the year: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-6/

The 4th WorldSBK season in 1991

For the first half of the year see: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-7/

Doug Polen (USA, Ducati) – the first private rider to become WorldSBK World Champion (© WorldSBK).

For the second half of the year: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-8/

The 5th WorldSBK season in 1992

The first half of the year: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-9/

World champion Doug Polen (on the right) and teammate Giancarlo Falapa with the Ducati factory team in 1992 (© WorldSBK).

The second half of the year: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-10/

The 6th WorldSBK season in 1993

The first half of the year: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-11/

Scott Russell (Kawasaki ZXR-750) – after Fred Merkel and Doug Polen, another American who helped shape the 1993 season and, above all, helped Kawasaki to gain fame and honor as a manufacturer (© WorldSBK).

The second half of the year: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-12/

The 7th WorldSBK season in 1994

Das erste Halbjahr: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-13/

Foggy – an icon of WorldSBK – waiting here comfortably in the pits until things continue (© WorldSBK).

Das zweite Halbjahr: http://www.motoracers.eu/wsbk-story-teil-14/

From the left Falappa, Roche and Lucchinelli (© WorldSBK).