Cycle News Staff | April 29, 2021
The following updated is from April 29, 2021:
Czech round returns to WorldSBK in 2021, Australian round canceled for 2021
This is a press release from WorldSBK…
The Autodrom Most will make its debut on the WorldSBK calendar in 2021 after signing a five-year agreement, while the Australian round is set to return in 2022.
The FIM, the Autodrom Most and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) are delighted to announce a new agreement that will see the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship race in Czech Republic from 2021. The five-year agreement means the Czech round will be included in the WorldSBK Calendar until 2025 with the announcement made at a presentation in Prague on Thursday, April 29.
The Autodrom Most will host the Czech round for the first time as it joins the WorldSBK calendar with the Czech circuit hosting the sixth round of the 2021 season from August 6-8. All three classes, as well as the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup, will compete at the Autodrom Most, which includes two Czech riders in WorldSSP300 with Petr Svoboda and Oliver König as well as the Jakub Smrz-run Accolade Smrz Racing team.
Located near Prague, the Autodrom Most was opened in 1983 and was then the first permanent motor racing complex in what was then known as Czechoslovakia. The circuit has already hosted many motorsport events including national motorcycle championships and will be a new, exciting addition to WorldSBK in 2021, while the Championship venue fits within the circuit’s commitment to be part of the sports, social and cultural life of the region. The event will also be broadcast live on Czech channel Nova Sport, following a five-year agreement with DWO.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting regulations, the FIM, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and DWO have agreed there will be no 2021 edition of the Australian round. We will now work for a return to the iconic venue in 2022 in the most successful way as the first event of the 2022 Championship.
Josef Zajicek, Autodrom Most Chief Executive Officer: “This is a milestone and a unique event during Autodrom’s history of almost 40 years. We are becoming organizers of World Championship races for the first time. This fact places demanding technical and organizational requirements on us. Nevertheless, we are happy to take up this challenge. Our objective is to open our complex to the general public, which is why we have to offer the best-quality events possible to our racing fans. And the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship indisputably belongs to such events. We will make sure that the riders, teams, partners, sponsors as well as spectators may be absolutely satisfied with us and look forward to the next edition of this fantastic display of powerful machines and brave riders.”
David Bennett, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, General Manager: “Phillip Island has hosted more World Superbike events than any other circuit in the world. We agree that now is the time to focus our efforts on the official test and season opening round in 2022. The decision not to run a round in 2021 will not adversely impact the continuation of the event. The event is secured for the Phillip Island Circuit until 2027.”
Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director: “We are thrilled to welcome the Autodrom Most to our calendar for the next five seasons. Today’s announcement that WorldSBK is set to return to the Czech Republic for the first time since 2018 reflects the continuing popularity of the Championship among the Czech fans. With Czech teams and riders within the paddock, this is a great opportunity to showcase the Czech Republic on a world stage and I trust the Autodrom Most will be hosting exciting events in the future. Regarding Australia, all parties involved decided that analyzing the latest changes in all major motorsport events and with the current uncertainty related to the pandemic, the best solution was to move the round to our usual start-of-the-season date in 2022. We look forward to returning there in 2022 with the Australian round a key event of the Championship.”
With the 2021 season set to begin in less than a month, the FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization are constantly working with government officials and circuits in order to continue putting everyone’s safety first. Any further updates to the 2021 WorldSBK calendar will be communicated accordingly.
2021 World Superbike Schedule (Updated)
5/21-23 |
(Rnd 1) Aragon, Spain |
5/28-30 |
(Rnd 2) Estoril, Portugal |
6/11-13 |
(Rnd 3) Misano, Italy |
7/2-4 |
(Rnd 4) Donington Park, England |
7/23-25 |
(Rnd 5) Assen, The Netherlands |
8/6-8 |
(Rnd 6) Most, Czech Republic |
8/20-22 |
(Rnd 7) Navarra, Spain |
9/3-5 |
(Rnd 8) Magny-Cours, France |
9/17-19 |
(Rnd 9) Barcelona, Catalunya |
9/24-26 |
(Rnd 10) Jerez, Spain |
10/1-3 |
(Rnd 11) Portimao, Portugal |
10/15-17 |
(Rnd 12) San Juan, Argentina |
11/12-14 |
(Rnd 12) Mandalika, Indonesia |
The following updated is from April 16, 2021:
2021 doubleheader at MotorLand Aragon kickstarts season, Estoril confirmed as round two
The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is taking shape with a provisional calendar in place ahead of the new season. Spanning four continents, WorldSBK’s calendar has a refreshed look to it for the year ahead and the title fight promises to take place right until the very end of the season. 13 rounds are currently on the provisional calendar with round 13 in Australia currently without dates; Indonesia is planned for a return for the first time since 1997 while Estoril will form part of a doubleheader and MotorLand Aragon to start the 2021 season. All races are subject to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictions that derive from that.
The first nine rounds of the Championship will take place across Europe; MotorLand Aragon starts proceedings in Spain May 21-23 with the Estoril Round following on a week later. A return to Misano and Donington Park—the latter of which is only for the WorldSBK class—follow and bring racing up until July 4th. The Dutch round at Assen will take place as round five in the height of the European summer July 23-25.
Next up is a brand-new venue at the Circuito de Navarra in Spain, August 20-22, becoming the seventh different Spanish circuit in WorldSBK. The French Round has a slightly altered slot at the start of September as the sixth round, followed two weeks later by the Catalunya WorldSBK Round, before the Spanish Round a week after that and then another week later, the Portuguese Round at Portimao at the start of October. This will be the first triple-header in WorldSBK for over 20 years.
The final three rounds of the Championship will take place outside of Europe with Argentina being the first and the Circuito San Juan Villicum, before Indonesia returns and the Mandalika International Street Circuit debuts in WorldSBK (subject to homologation). The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is on the provisional calendar (subject to contract) but yet to be assigned dates towards the end of the year. The non-European races will take place with only WorldSBK and WorldSSP classes.
Additionally, a Dorna-supported test was held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for WorldSSP and WorldSSP300 on the 29th and 30th of March, followed by a two-day WorldSBK test on March 31 to April 1, before racing action begins.
2021 WorldSBK Calendar
5/21-23 |
(Rnd 1) Aragon, Spain |
5/28-30 |
(Rnd 2) Estoril, Portugal |
6/11-13 |
(Rnd 3) Misano, Italy |
7/2-4 |
(Rnd 4) Donington Park, England |
7/23-25 |
(Rnd 5) Assen, The Netherlands |
8/20-22 |
(Rnd 6) Navarra, Spain |
9/3-5 |
(Rnd 7) Magny-Cours, France |
9/17-19 |
(Rnd 8) Barcelona, Catalunya |
9/24-26 |
(Rnd 9) Jerez, Spain |
10/1-3 |
(Rnd 10) Portimao, Portugal |
10/15-17 |
(Rnd 11) San Juan, Argentina |
11/12-14 |
(Rnd 12) Mandalika, Indonesia |
TBA |
(Rnd 13) Phillip Island, Australia |
To download the calendar in a pdf, click here.
The following updated is from March 9, 2021:
The World Superbike calendar has some adjustments. Circuito de Navarra in Spain will make its WorldSBK debut in August. And the Estoril round is postponed, which means Aragon is now the opener from May 21-23.
UPDATE: March 9, 2021
The 2021 WorldSBK calendar will feature a new circuit while a postponement to the Estoril Round means MotorLand Aragon will open the season.
Due to ongoing local restrictions the FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) confirm updates to the 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, for what is set to be an exceptional season.
Following a further modification to the 2021 season, a new circuit will join the calendar as the Circuito de Navarra becomes the fifth Round of the 2021 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship. Located in Los Arcos, in the north of Spain, the Circuito de Navarra was opened in 2010 and has already hosted events for both national and international level competition. The Spanish circuit will host WorldSBK and WorldSSP classes August 20-22.
MotorLand Aragon will now host the opening round of the 2021 calendar May 21-23 due to the postponement of the Estoril round, initially scheduled to be held May 7-9. All parties involved are working hard to confirm a new date for the event.
With the Supported Test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya taking place in less than a month, the FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization are constantly working with Government Officials and Circuits in order to continue putting everyone’s safety first.
2021 Superbike World Championship (Provisional)
|
|
5/21-23 |
(Rnd 1) MotorLand Aragon, Alcaniz, Spain |
6/11-13 |
(Rnd 2) Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Misano, San Marino |
7/2-4 |
(Rnd 3) Donington Park, Donington, England |
7/23-25 |
(Rnd 4) TT Circuit Assen, Assen, Netherlands |
8/20-22 |
(Rnd 5) Circuito de Navarra, Los Arcos, Spain |
9/3-5 |
(Rnd 6) Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours, France |
9/17-19 |
(Rnd 7) Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain |
9/24-26 |
(Rnd 8) Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain |
10/1-3 |
(Rnd 9) Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimao, Portugal |
10/15-17 |
(Rnd 10) Circuito San Juan Villicum, San Juan, Argentina |
11/12-14 |
(Rnd 11) Mandalika International Street Circuit, Kuta, Indonesia*** |
TBA |
(Rnd 12) Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island, Australia |
TBA |
(Rnd 13) Circuito do Estoril, Estoril, Portugal |
Click here to download a pdf the amended 2021 WorldSBK calendar.
UPDATE FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2021
Dutch WorldSBK Round Rescheduled for July Date
The 2021 WorldSBK Championship will not commence until May following Dutch officials dictating no large events will be held in the Drenthe region, where the Assen circuit is situated, until June 1. The first round of 2021 will thus move to Portugal at Estoril on May 7-9.
“Following the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and resulting regulations, the FIM, government officials, the TT Circuit Assen and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) informs of the postponement of the Dutch Round to the 23rd to the 25th of July,” the FIM said in a statement.
“As local authorities have determined that no major events may be held in Drenthe until the 1st of June 2021, the Dutch Round, initially scheduled from the 23rd to the 25th of April, will now take place at the end of July.
“FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization are constantly working with Government Officials and Circuits in order to continue putting the safety of everyone first. Any further updates to the 2021 WorldSBK calendar will be communicated accordingly.”
2021 WorldSBK Championship Updated Schedule*
5/7-9 |
(Rnd 1) Estoril, Portugal |
5/21-23 |
(Rnd 2) Aragon, Spain |
6/11-13 |
(Rnd 3) Misano, Italy |
7/2-4 |
(Rnd 4) Donington Park, England |
7/23-25 |
(Rnd 5) Assen, The Netherlands |
9/3-5 |
(Rnd 6) Magny-Cours, France |
9/17-19 |
(Rnd 7) Barcelona, Catalunya |
9/24-26 |
(Rnd 8) Jerez, Spain |
10/1-3 |
(Rnd 9) Portimao, Portugal |
10/15-17 |
(Rnd 10) San Juan, Argentina |
11/12-14 |
(Rnd 11) Mandalika, Indonesia |
TBA |
(Rnd 12) Phillip Island, Australia |
TBA |
(Rnd 13) TBA |