The World SBK Championship prepares to take on the final third of the 2017 season and as anticipation builds for the last four Rounds, attention has moved over to who will be going where in 2018.

Here's a look at what the outline of the grid is starting to look like ahead of next season.

Guaranteed: There will be no changes in the official Kawasaki, Ducati and Yamaha teams. Both Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes renewed their two-year contract with the Kawasaki Racing Team during the 2016 season, and will therefore continue as a duo in 2018.

Meanwhile, Aruba it.Racing - Ducati Team renewed Marco Melandri’s contract in mid-August for another season, continuing the partnership with Chaz Davies, who’s seat was already secure following his two year contract renewal which was signed in mid-2016.

During the summer break the Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team announced the extension of Alex Lowes' contract for the 2018 season, which didn’t come as a bit surprise, given the Brit has played a key role in the development of the R1 since Yamaha's return to the Championship in 2016.

Lowes will continue to share a garage with Dutchman Michael van der Mark, who joined the team this year and has a contract with the Japanese factory for another year.

Following the blow of the tragic loss of Nicky Hayden, Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team bosses face the challenge of putting together a project for 2018, one which meets the ambitions of the official structure of the Japanese factory.

North American Jake Gagne tentatively climbed Hayden's saddle at Laguna Seca, with Davide Giugliano stepping in at Lausitzring, but the CBR1000 RR saddle has not yet been filled by a permanent rider for the next season. As for Stefan Bradl, the team led by Ronald Ten Kate only confirms that he is currently negotiating his position for 2018.

There are some notable changes coming for the Kawasaki Pucetti Racing team in 2018. Plans to have two bikes in the WorldSBK class are in motion, and team owner Manuel Puccetti has confirmed they are in advanced talks with Toprak Razgatlioglu – who is currently locked in the title fight for STK1000.

On top of this, the team are in talks with Leon Haslam, who secured a podium finish for the team this season, as wild card at Donington Park. Another option for the second bike is former French World Champion Sylvain Guintoli, which could be a strong option if Haslam chooses not to make the step back over to WorldSBK. Despite all this talk, it is worth noting their current rider Randy Krummenacher won’t stay in the premier class, with a move back to WorldSSP in the pipeline.

In the Milwaukee Aprilia Team box, Eugene Laverty is the only rider to have signed for 2018 so far, but he could be joined again by Lorenzo Savadori as negations continue. The Italian has expressed his desire to continue with the British-based team, and despite recently testing the Aprilia RS GP around Misano he isn’t looking to be making the jump over to MotoGP just yet.

We are yet to hear an announcement regarding Leon Camier, and with MV Agusta Reparto Corse looking to run two bikes in WorldSBK, it will be interesting to see if he decides to stay with the Italian team. On top of this, Argentinean rider Leandro Mercado’s contract with IodaRacing Team comes to an end this season.

Xavi Fores (Barni Racing), Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing) and Román Ramos (Team Go Eleven) are among those who are yet to sign with a team for 2018, as their contracts come to an end this season.

Fores currently sits in sixth position in the championship standings, but he is aware of other factors: "With my current team I am happy, but it is not yet known how the team will be established for 2018. At the moment everything is still in the air.”

It is the same case for Torres, as regardless of the results so far this season, the Spanish rider doesn’t know the position of his team in regards to entry for 2018. Torres is yet to make a decision as to whether he will compete in his fourth season in WorldSBK.

Compatriot Ramoswould also be heading into his fourth season as the rider for Team Kawasaki Go Eleven, and the Spaniard is yet to hear anything regarding next year: "I have no news yet. I hope to continue in WorldSBK next year; I want to be a good rider in WorldSBK and to get very far in this Championship.”

As WorldSBK racing action returns in two weeks time at the Portimao circuit in Portugal for Round 10, it is likely we are set to hear about the final pieces of the 2018 puzzle with the paddock getting together for only the second time since July.

Pirelli and Dorna WSBK Organization have announced they will continue as the Official Tyre Supplier for all classes of the World Superbike Championship for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

This announcement means Pirelli will be the longest running control tyre supplier in history, as the contract is extended for two more seasons.

First signing in 2004, the technical partnership established by Pirelli with the World Superbike Championship is currently into its 14^th consecutive season, and continues to impress.

The single tyre formula proposed by Pirelli was initially designed to reduce the overall costs of running the Championship whilst at the same time, increase competitiveness. This is achieved by offering riders and teams the same opportunities to compete for victory year after year, through a fair and identical tyre supply for all.

Right from the outset, Pirelli, realised that the production bike derived series was a great development platform for its tyres, therefore and decided to give the Championship production tyres. Undoubtedly, this choice proved to be one of the best: based on the motto "We sell what we race, we race what we sell".

This confirmation in the role of Sole Tyre Supplier demonstrates the passion and dedication that Pirelli has always played in motorsport, confirming an important feature of the Italian company's DNA. The commitment placed in the control tyre championships however, has not deprived Pirelli of being leader also in open tyre championships and competitions.

To remain faithful to the philosophy that has always characterised Pirelli's commitment and strategy in the FIM Superbike World Championship - to use production not prototype tyres - Pirelli in 2013, became the first brand to abandon 16.5 inch sizes, introducing new 17” DIABLO™ Superbike tyres, a size most commonly used by motorcyclists.

Giorgio Barbier, Racing Activities Director of Pirelli’s Business Unit Moto, said: "We are historically a strong sporty DNA brand. This year we celebrated 110 years of Motorsports activity, and this renewal is a strong sign of our continued business strategy that has enabled our company to establish itself as a benchmark in racing."

"First of all in the segment of racing and Supersport tyres, and then with great success in both development and sales across the range. The bond between Pirelli and the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has always been solid, over the years we have strongly contributed to the growth of this Championship and, at the same time, thanks to our participation we have succeeded in developing successful products which we have made available to all motorcyclists."

"Now we are thinking about the future, we will work together with Dorna on the growth of the Championship and especially with the new World Supersport 300 class, because today's young riders will be the future protagonists of tomorrow's World Superbike Championship."

Marc Saurina, WorldSBK Commercial and Marketing Director adds: “To have Pirelli on board for another two seasons is fantastic news for the Championship, and to reach the milestone of the longest running sole tyre supplier really shows the strong relationship the two companies have."

"Providing all classes with such an important asset as tyres is something we take seriously, and we believe Pirelli are the perfect company to continue with."

As the World Superbike Championship heads into the second half of the season, Jonathan Rea’s (Kawasaki Racing Team) fight for his third title really begins to hot up.

Visiting the British MotoGP race as the WorldSBK paddock counts down to the 10^th round of the season in Portugal, Rea was able to take stock of the atmosphere in the GP paddock, and take a look at the riding styles on display from the riders. Discussing all things WorldSBK, MotoGP and the new for 2017 grid reshuffling format, Rea gives a relaxed and honest interview:

You’ve spent the weekend at the British GP at Silverstone, what are your thoughts of watching the GP bikes?
When it's a WorldSBK weekend I have a lot of commitments - whether it's riding or media or sponsors - so it's been a lot of fun to come here and just watch the racing. It's been good because I could spend some time and watch what riders are doing, and I've actually learned some things as a rider just by watching how some of these guys work. At the November test in Jerez last year the WorldSBK riders were able to share the track with a lot of Grand Prix riders, so I was able to ride with them and compare where a MotoGP bike makes its lap time, and where a Superbike makes its time. That was really interesting for me at the time but standing trackside and watching it was the lean angle that these guys carry.

The elbow down style doesn't really work on a Superbike as much because unless you have the leverage like a Baz or Redding we can't carry that angle. I was watching through Vale and Club during qualifying and Marquez's lean angle through the long corner was incredible. We don't have that grip with our tyre because the Pirelli makes its performance with grip on acceleration; we focus on stopping the bike to the apex and then picking up and accelerating. They don't stop or accelerate particularly fast, but they can carry so much more momentum than us. You work with what works best for your tyres.

There has been a lot of discussion over the summer break about WorldSBK, what are your thoughts?

“I think that the biggest problem is the gap between Kawasaki and Ducati and the rest. I've been on both sides of the grid with a competitive bike, and also one where you're trying to catch up. I think that if the plan is to make the bikes closer to Stock, that it's better to encourage the other manufacturers to spend more money on WorldSBK.

From the start of Superbikes it was about production bikes but then in the Foggy era it became more specialised. It was around then that Honda took it very seriously with the RC45 and that type of homologation special, it was production based but a special bike. It's no different now but it's also important to know that Superbike is in an era where it is more standard than ever. Something needs to happen, but whatever changes are made, I’ll be on the grid and ready to race. The guys at the front are going really fast; Davies, myself, Melandri and Sykes are all going fast, but the gap to the rest is too big.

I have one more year with Kawasaki and while I don't want to race too long, I think that another two year contract would be perfect. I'm riding better than I ever have, and I think that experience counts for an awful lot in racing. The best situation for me would be to stay with Kawasaki and build a future with them. For me though I'm not thinking too far ahead because I'm lucky to have my contract sorted for next year. Although I'm sure that in the middle of next year my manager will be having a fun time in the paddock! A lot of the MotoGP grid teams open for contracts at the end of next year, and it's the same in WorldSBK. All the official teams are open at the end of 2018 so it'll be a fun silly season for everyone!

To come here and compare myself to GP riders, I'd need the right equipment and I wouldn't come here just to be here. I really enjoy the WorldSBK paddock and riding our bikes, and I love working with Kawasaki and right now that's where my opportunity is. However I also think that I'm now too old to come to MotoGP and that I've missed the boat. I'm lucky to have had two races in 2012 on the Honda when I replaced Casey. It was very difficult for me because I was racing WorldSBK one week and Grand Prix the next but it was enjoyable,  I got to ride one of the best bikes and score some points.

Riders are racing until their mid 30's now even though they do a lot more training on bikes...
“There are a lot more areas where we work to improve our skill-sets but I think that for me, my success came when I became a more balanced person. As I got older and my life stopped being just about being obsessed about the bike, it meant that I've not been distracted by somethings which in the past would have upset me. It's not just training, it's also about how electronics have helped protect riders from crashing. There's not as many highsides, and motorcyling is now as safe as it's ever been, which is definitely helped to prolong a lot of people's careers. If you talk to Kevin Schwantz, he'll tell you about the two-stroke era and how riders in their 30's were so beaten up that they had to stop.

How important is Pere Riba?
Pere is great to work with and wherever I end up in my career, I would want him there with me. He's an ex-racer and he understands it. However you look at Iannone going to Suzuki with his crew chief, and that it hasn't worked for him, and some people start to point fingers. It shows that bringing people with you has both positives and negatives. For me though it's not just Pere, it's the whole group of guys that I have working with me. They are incredible and I know that I'm really lucky to have them.

How do you find coming through the pack in Race 2?
My motocross background comes in very useful in Race 2, when you have to come through the pack. You need to react to other people and what's happening around you. Someone said that it's like riding in deep sand in a Motocross race, and you have to react to where the ruts develop around the track. For me the key is just getting to the front as quickly as I can. If you get stuck behind someone you can lose a lot of time. My father always thought me in Motocross that if you catch a guy you need to pass him. If you spend too long behind him you'll stick to their speed. Germany was fun because my start wasn't great but the rest of the first lap was. For me the new regulation has given me an advantage, but has worked against riders like Chaz sometimes because he hasn't been able to get through..

How important was beating Sykes at Donington and Davies at Aragon?
I set myself targets in the winter to win the championship, but also a personal goal to beat Chaz at Aragon and Tom in Donington. Obviously Chaz crashed in Aragon which helped me but I was right there in both races. I beat Tom convincingly at Donington, but Laguna Race 2 was probably my favourite race win of the season because I got to the front and set a great pace.

In a recent interview with British newspaper Motorcyclews.com, WorldSBK Executive Director Daniel Carrera has explained some of the changes and regulation updates which are currently being discussed for 2018, as the Superbike World Championship is working with teams and manufacturers, hoping to achieve a better balance in the series.

Among these updates are the changes that would affect the electronic control unit of all motorcycles on the grid, or a rev limiter in order to make the bikes more equal from manufacturer to manufacturer. 

 "The FIM has submitted a proposal to the MSMA [WorldSBK manufacturers association]," explains Carrera.

"A single ECU is proposed, starting in 2019, not 2018. We will need to evaluate which sensors and which strategies will be included in the electronic control unit. It will be a lengthy discussion and it takes time to be prepared for it. We have already said that we would like to have it, it is a point that we believe will give us greater equality."

"With the feedback from each manufacturer we will confirm whether or not this will create a better balance."

Also on the table is the possible adoption of a speed limiter. "This is a balance system that we have proposed and we are still waiting for the decision of each manufacturer to see if there is a majority," Carrera points out in the same interview.

"We expected to have the feedback at Lausitzring, but we think it will be in Portimao (mid-September) when we can give the conclusions and report on how things will be in 2018 and 2019."