Troy Corser’s 1999 World Superbike Championship season officially got underway on Thursday 28th January in Milan with the presentation of Ducati Corse’s sporting programmes for this year.

Held in the interesting surroundings of the ‘Magna Pars’ multi-purpose centre in the centre of Milan, Ducati Corse revealed to the world’s press the latest 996 version of its all-conquering superbike, which Troy is hoping will take him to a second WSBK title in 1999.

This was the Australian’s first look at the brand-new bike, resplendent in its new livery (traditional Ducati red plus strategically-placed Italian tricolour stripes, together with logos from new sponsors Shell Advance and Infostrada). It was also – here’s the really good news - his first appearance since getting a 100% fit report from doctors after recovering from his accident at the final round of the 1998 series in Japan.

Looking leaner and slimmer than ever (Troy managed to lose some kilos during convalescence and the summer months down under), the Australian was in a confident mood as he prepares to head to South Africa and Australia for the official WSBK test sessions over the next couple of weeks.

‘The bike looks good’ he said during the press conference, ‘I can’t wait to get on it to start testing’. This year, not only will Troy have to face up to the stronger-than-ever challenge from the Japanese manufacturers in World Superbike, but he will also have to deal with a tricky client within his own Davide Tardozzi-run factory team: three-times WSBK champion Carl Fogarty from England, who will be his teammate.

‘If it comes down to the wire again at the final race like last year, and I have to race against Carl, then I’ll just have to go out and do it’ predicted the Aussie.

Corser will be at Kyalami (South Africa) on Feb 1-3 and then Phillip Island (Australia) from Feb 8-10 for official testing, while the WSBK season kicks off at the South African circuit on March 28th.