It has been reported in his native Brazil that veteran GP and MotoGP rider Alexander Barros has decided to join the World Superbike series for 2006. Barros rode for the Camel Honda team in 2005 but is currently ride-less and without prospects in MotoGP, apparently.

Barros has said that he wants to race in a series where he can win races. Which is a wonderful plan, but is it reality based?

It's just that the success-rate history of GP and MotoGP riders coming to World Superbike isn't anything to set a WSBK team manager's Excel spreadsheet ablaze. While there have been successful former GP riders in WSBK—Frankie Chili or Raymond Roche probably head that list—there's a rather drab list of GP men who some thought would do well in WSBK but were ultimately unable to hang. Riders like Luca Cadalora, Dori Romboni and the current GP man trying to make it in Superbikes—Norick Abe.

Barros, who is—gulp—35 years old, is closely linked to the Team ten Kate squad for 2006, meaning he could be racing a Honda World Superbike machine next year. However, ten Kate are coldly clinical in their approach to racing and you can bet your best Christmas gift that they won't diminish their current World Superbike and Supersport effort just so they can add a former MotoGP rider to their successful squad. The ten Kate boys are quite savvy and certainly won't be romanced into thinking Barros—who has virtually no Superbike experience outside of racing the Suzuka eight hours—is a better candidate that any of their current riders.

If former GP man Barros has a sponsor that will fully pay his way, and he fits well within the team, great. If not, then ...