This weekend sees Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit make its second appearance on the WorldSBK calendar, albeit two months later in the year than it was for the 2014 season.

Off the back of Laguna Seca two weeks ago, Althea Racing is looking to improve on a tricky weekend which featured a double retirement in Race 1 – when both Matteo Baiocco and Niccolo Canepa suffered electrical problems – prior to a double points finish in Race 2, with Canepa crossing the finish line eighth and Baiocco 13th.                                                                                          

“I cannot wait to get to Sepang, which is another new track for me that I am impatient to learn,” Baiocco begins. “It won’t be easy, but I want to put the unlucky Laguna Seca weekend behind me and work to make up points and positions in the standings. I would like to improve and plan to give it my all – we’ll be doing our best right from the first practices on Friday.”

Whereas Baiocco enters Round 10 of 13 placed 11th in the championship and just two points behind Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes, Canepa is 22nd overall - having already raced earlier this season for both the now defunct Team Hero EBR and Grillini SBK Team.

“After just two races on-board the Panigale R Superbike, I was able to be very fast at Laguna Seca,” Canepa states. “I still have room for improvement and am sure that I’ll be able to take another step forward at Sepang. The racing will be tough for the riders, bike and tyres considering the extreme temperatures, but I’m prepared and well trained to face the weekend.”

The majority of the WorldSBK community arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday, greeted by sunshine and blue skies. However, as always in such a tropical climate, thunderstorms can never be ruled out of the equation.