Chaz Davies knows that WorldSBK is 'very competitive' i꧋n 2018 and the key for Ducati winning isn't a better bike; it's havinꦺg a refined package that has evolved over the years.

“I really think that WorldSBK is very 🤡competitive now,” assessed Davies.

“We'🐻re probably missing some🍎 of the old hands, like when Max Biaggi or Carlos Checa raced before, but maybe I'm one of those old hands now!

"There’s good🌼 depth there 𒆙- a lot of good riders - and the bikes are getting better too.”

One of the biggest talking points over the winter in WorldSB🎃K was the potential for a ch𓄧ange in the competitive balance of the series.

With wholesale regulation changes, in addition to a shift in 𒀰the philosophy behind the regulations, it was clear that the product on track would change.

The racing has been as hard fought at the front as ever, but the ability for other manufacturers to challenge the dom🔥inance of Kawasaki and Ducati has definitely seen races play out i﷽n a different manner.

There may be familiarity 🍰in the standings with Jonathan Rea and Dav💃ies leading the way, but over the course of the opening eight races both have had very different paths to the top.

Rea has had to adapt to situa🧸tions in Race 2 and having to fight his way through the pack. The Sunday shuffle didn't affect him꧂ much in 2017 but starting from the third row of the grid has left its mark on the reigning champion.

For Davies it has also forced him to race against different bikes. In Round two he had to fight with the Yamahas a꧋nd the Honda of good friend Leon Camier before🐟 claiming success in Race 2.

“The gaps between the bikes are really tight this year. Something has changed and bikes have improve✃d.

"To be battling with Leon on the Honda in Thailand is a good example, because you can see how much that bike has 𒅌come on. We’ve been pegged back but they’ve also made big steps.

"It was fun to race against Le😼on in Thailand but I wouldn't race him any differently compared to anybod🍌y else.

"I try to race fair but not to give an inch on track and I race him the same as anyone... but w𒉰hen we're out karting it's totally diffඣerent! Friendship is out the window in a go-kart race. No hesitation about that!

"The Yamaha was strong last year🐽 and it’s actually intere🐎sting to see how the different bikes work on the track.

"I feel like our pa𒅌ckage is really solid but it's different to last y🌌ear. Last year we had good top-end power and I could pull out and pass a Yamaha on the straight.

"In Thailand though I had to rely on them having sub-pa♛r corner exits, and me nailing the exit, just to get the draft on them. Without that I couldn’t do anything abou﷽t them. I couldn’t actually go around them in the slipstream.

"So it’s definitely different on track this ye💧ar.”

One thing that isn't different for Davies in 2018 is his b♑ike.

Sure there have been changes to the Ducati Panigale forced by the new regulations, but he still has a lot of previous data that he c𒁏an analyse to find solutions. For the Welshman that's the biggest advantage that Ducati, and Kawasaki, have compared to their rivals.

“There isn't a massive difference between the bikes now. The advantage that we ♉have is experience with our package.

"Our bike has been at a good level now for a few years. I thinkꦗ that is probably what’s just keeping us a little bit ahead and the rest are still finding their feet.

"Whe🏅n you have guওys like Leon, who have got a new bike, it means that they’re going to be changing things a lot more.

“Our package, in comparison, is a little ⛄bit more refined. I feel like that’s probably our trump card at the minute.

"It might not necessarily be that we’ve got more speed or better acceleration or anything like 🐈that, but we have got have a massive bank of data on a really solid package.”

The next test for Davies on that package will be this weekend, May 11-13, at💞 ๊the Italian round of WorldSBK at Imola.

It's a home round for🍬 Ducati and Davies has made it a home for home for the number seven 🎐with back-to-back double victories.