I caught the first race of the 2009 World Superbike series this weekend.  Really good stuff: close racing all the way through, and even though I didn’t get to watch the second race I’m a big fan of the two-race format.

• Phillip Island results (worldsbk.com)

Of particular note is Troy Corser’s eighth-place finish in the first race… on BMW’s newly-developed S1000.

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Speaking of newly-developed race rockets, Force India have unveiled their 2009 Formula One contender:

The high, needle-like nose reminds me of the all-conquering Williams FW-18:

I rather doubt that the VJM02 will prove to be as successful as the FW18, but at least it’ll provide some nostalgia.

Other points of interest are the mirror mounts (second only to the Ferrari’s in aerodynamic interest, at least in my uneducated opinion) and the integrated turning vanes at the sidepod corners.  The front wing itself looks kind of brutal and simplistic, but if it works that’s not a problem.  None of the other teams has the movable elements fenced off from the centre section that aggressively.

Force India are running a McLaren gearbox and Mercedes engine this year, rather than getting their powertrain from Ferrari as before.  We’ll see how that works.

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Sticking with Formula One: the Honda F1 rumour mill is still chugging away, persistently hopeful that the team will in fact manage to field a car in Melbourne this month.  It looks like they might be onto something:

• ‘Honda off to Jerez as a deal is close’ (Planet F1)
• ‘Honda sold to management group’ (Planet F1)

According to the second article, Nick Fry and Ross Brawn have — somehow — bought Honda F1 with the aid of Bernie Ecclestone himself.

I’ll believe it when I see a pair of Hondas on the grid for the Australian GP.

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Meanwhile, other teams are buying cars and getting ready for the Formula Le Mans season.  Yes, you read that right:

• Formula Le Mans: A great season in perspective (Planet Le Mans)

That’s gonna kick ass.

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Finally, Planet Le Mans looks over — part of — the entry list for the 2009 24 Heures du Mans:

• PlanetLeMans analyzes the 2009 Le Mans entry list: LMP1
• PlanetLeMans analyzes the 2009 Le Mans entry list: LMP2

I’m actually more interested in Sebring this year.  Peugeot vs. Audi vs. Acura ought to be a great show in LMP1.