World Superbike To Russia
Paul Carruthers | May 21, 2011
The World Superbike Series hopes to hold a round in Russia next year after Paolo Flammini, the CEO of Infront Motor Sports and Alexander Yakhnich, CEO of Yakhnich Motorsport, announced a partnership yesterday that will work toward bringing a round to a yet to be named circuit in 2012.As outlined in the deal, Yakhnich Motorsport becomes will promote the Russian round and also acquires the TV and Marketing rights for the Russian market with the intention of bringing a race to the Russian market next year. Negotiations are currently being held with a number of circuits in the process of applying for FIM homologation, according to Infront Motor Sports.”We are very satisfied with this agreement and we wish to thank Mr. Yakhnich for his warm welcome and for the truly professional work carried out by his team,” Flammini said. “Russia is one of the most important nations in the world, with a rapidly growing economy. We think that the Superbike World Championship is the most suitable way to help develop the Russian motorcycle market, together with a plan that foresees the growth of young Russian riders on an international level in our four categories”.
Alexander Yakhnich added: “We are honored to have reached this prestigious target. Thanks to the vital support of the Russian Government, specifically the Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, Russian motorcycling is getting ready to play host to the Superbike World Championship and in this way help the growth of the sport in our country in the best possible way”.
The ceremony, which was also attended by Paolo Ciabatti, SBK General Manager, and Alexander Lunkin, President of the Russian Motorcycling Federation, also saw the presentation of the ‘Two Countries Cup’, the UEM-organized trophy for Italian and Russian riders with ‘Open Stock 600′ bikes – the two rounds of which will be held at Misano on June 12 as part of the San Marino Round of the Superbike World Championship, and at the new Canyon circuit in Kazan (Russia) on August 21
Paul Carruthers | Editor
Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America's Daily Motorcycle News Source.
