power up

SBK X 
Superbike World Championship 
Xbox 360 £39.99 Black Bean Games

Slap on your leathers and mount your high-powered mean machine in this motorbike racer.

Set on the official tracks of the SBK Championship there are three modes of play — simulation, arcade and online multiplayer for up to 16 players on Xbox Live. 

All have three different classes — Superbike, Supersport and Superstock 1000 — with sub-categories for quick race, quick championship, time attack or story and career modes. 

The game looks smart with decent models and realistic animations and there are options galore. You can race as a real driver or create your own biker. 

Customising

Race length, weather conditions and opponent skill are all tweakable, while in the highly detailed simulation mode you can customise pretty much anything. 

In career mode you can reach legend status and raise your reputation by finishing first, performing stunts and Superpole victories. In every career mode race you earn bonus points by beating a certain opponent and meeting set criteria.

There are three levels of simulation but whichever you pick it’s a tough ride. Arcade allows you to enjoy the ride without eating tarmac every time you make a mistake. 

With its rock hard sim mode and more forgiving arcade mode, SBK X Superbike World Championship is like two games in one.

Australia — Oz has its first female prime minister, Julia Gillard. She’s also the first foreign-born PM since 1923, as she was born in Barry, Wales, and moved to Australia as a child.
iPhone — smaller and lighter than the previous model, the new iPhone4 was released on Thursday to millions of excited buyers.

Litter louts — Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park have had to ban wild camping as irresponsible campers have been leaving such a mess. Now they’ve ruined it for everyone. Pick up your litter!

Hilary Heath

By Kevin Scully