Press Release | August 18, 2020
Update: August 18, 2020
Misano canceled for 2020, Estoril season-ending round added
The revised Championship calendar will feature a second Portuguese event and the welcome return of Estoril to the WorldSBK schedule.
The following is a press release from WorldSBK…
The revised Championship calendar will feature a second Portuguese event and the welcome return of Estoril to the WorldSBK schedule
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), Circuito do Estoril officials and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) are pleased to announce an additional round to the 2020 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship. The Circuito Estoril, situated just 30km from the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon, will host the WorldSBK class, along with the FIM Supersport World Championship and the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship October 16-18. The event will replace Misano as the season-ending round and will be the first time in WorldSBK history that two rounds will be held in Portugal.
Estoril has a rich history in motorcycle racing and from 2000 to 2012, held the Portuguese Grand Prix in MotoGP™️. In recent years, it has hosted the FIM CEV Repsol Junior World Championship and for 2020, will see a return to World Championship status with the arrival of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. Estoril has previously been on the WorldSBK calendar in the past: the first year of the Championship in 1988 and in 1993, the most recent. The Estoril round has not yet decided about the presence of fans and on-site external media, but a decision will made at a more relevant time, in accordance to the protocols of the moment.
Jorge Viegas, FIM President: “I am glad that it was possible to add a second round in Portugal and to see WorldSBK returning to Circuito Estoril, which had already hosted this very competitive championship in its founding year back in 1988 and then in 1993. I would like to thank DWO, Circuito Estoril and the Portuguese Federation for making it possible to organize the final round of the 2020 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in Portugal.”
Jaime Andrez, Chairman of the Estoril Circuit: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome to Estoril the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. This competition is not new to Estoril, as it has visited in the past in 1988 and in 1993. We are confident that the teams will have a fantastic experience at the Estoril track, especially if we have three days of mild and pleasant weather, combined with the Circuit’s culture of warm welcome and professionalism. I would like to congratulate the organizers and wish all competitors the best of luck for these three days and hope this event will contribute to highly promote this sport in 2020 and in the following years.
Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director of the Sporting and Organization Departments: “The addition of a second round in Portugal on the calendar is very important for the growth of WorldSBK in the Iberian Peninsula and specifically Portugal. It will add a challenge to a lot of the paddock as most haven’t visited this track, bringing an extra dynamic to the Championship as the season readies for a spectacular round at this returning venue. I would like to thank the FIM and the circuit for their cooperation and desire to be part of the 2020 calendar.”
Update: August 14, 2020
Argentina WorldSBK Round Canceled
After extensive cooperation and collaboration, WorldSBK will not visit Argentina in 2021
The following is a press release from WorldSBK…
The Government of Sant Juan, Grupo OSD, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) regret to announce that the Argentinean Round of the 2020 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship has been postponed until 2021. The round was originally scheduled for the 9th – 11th of October and was to enter its third year of WorldSBK action. With their contract to host a round lasting for three years, the round will take place as part of the 2021 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship and therefore will be able to host the Argentine audience for the third season, a year later than originally planned, with a date still yet to be confirmed.
All parties involved examined and evaluated every possible scenario to make sure the event went ahead as planned. However, given the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent health and safety concerns, travel restrictions and logistical challenges, the solution is to postpone the event until 2021. With the Argentinean Round at the Circuito San Juan Villicum originally signed up for three seasons starting back in 2018, the 2020 event – whilst not going ahead – will be transferred to form part of the 2021 WorldSBK Calendar. The round has been a great success and has been history-making for many reasons, with 2021 scheduled to be no different.
Jorge Chica, Secretary of State for Sports of the Government of San Juan, commented: “After long discussions together with Grupo OSD and DWO, organisers of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, we have decided to suspend this event that was going to be held at the San Juan Villicum Circuit in October 2020. This is due to the pandemic and the international context, since the state of health and the health of Argentines, especially those of San Juan, comes first than any event. We will work to carry out this event during 2021, to continue promoting actions that promote the provincial Sports Revolution”.
Orlando Terranova, CEO of Grupo OSD, gave his thoughts on the postponement: “We are very sorry to postpone the third event to next year. However, we are committed to actions aimed at being able to live with COVID-19 by lowering the risks. We understand that the economic impact of the event in the hotel industry, suppliers and regional economies was always great and therefore we hope that next year we can work to help with the movement of the provincial economy. We take this opportunity to thank the support and teamwork with the Governor of the Province of San Juan, Mr. Sergio Uñac, the Secretary of State for Sports of the Government of San Juan, Mr. Jorge Chica and all the authorities of the province that make the event possible. What remains for the future is to wait for the world to find a vaccine in order for us to define a calendar for 2021, which will surely be a different date from the one scheduled so far, but will be in the aim to protect the care of all spectators, athletes, organisation and the people of San Juan.”
Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director, Sporting and Organisation Departments, commented on the postponement: “It is a great shame not to be going to one of the most atmospheric events on the calendar. Health and safety come first and along with the travel restrictions, logistical challenges and the uncertainty of the immediate future, we regret not being able to find a solution that meets the needs of all. We look forward to welcoming Argentina and San Juan back onto the calendar in 2021, where the passionate Argentinean fans can cheer on their heroes again.”
Update: July 24, 2020
British, Dutch and Qatari WorldSBK rounds canceled.
Despite the very best efforts of all involved, three rounds have been canceled as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
After extensive discussions and the assessment of a multitude of possibilities and scenarios, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) regret to announce the cancellation of three events that were previously to be determined (TBD) and to be confirmed (TBC). The safety of all parties within the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship paddock is of top priority and whilst the season is carrying on, a solution was not possible to incorporate every venue, given the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UK Round at Donington Park (previously postponed and TBD), the Dutch Round at the TT Circuit Assen (previously rescheduled, then postponed and TBD) and the Qatar Round at the Losail International Circuit (previously postponed and TBD) have been canceled. It will be the first time in WorldSBK history that there won’t be a round in the United Kingdom, whilst the TT Circuit Assen has been a permanent fixture on the calendar since 1992, ending a streak of the longest continually serving venue in WorldSBK.
Gregorio Lavilla, Executive Director of the Sporting and Organization Departments commented: “I am personally very sad to announce the subsequent cancellations of the three rounds. As a fan of our sport, I am extremely saddened not to go to WorldSBK’s birthplace at Donington Park and the ‘Cathedral of Speed’ at Assen, a track which has featured on our calendar uninterrupted since 1992. I am equally as sad not to not have the spectacle of a night race in Qatar, always something we look forward to. We explored all avenues in order to find a solution but unfortunately, one could not be found. However, this mustn’t cast a cloud over the Championship. The majority of our events in 2020 will happen and plans for a full, complete 2021 are well underway. We would like to thank everyone involved for their tireless work and cooperation, and also the fans for waiting patiently before our season resumes.”
The 2020 Championship will now follow the latest planned schedule and any further updates will be communicated accordingly in due course.
May 29, 2020 update
2020 WorldSBK Potentially restarts in Jerez July 31-August 2; British and Dutch rounds have been postponed.
This is a press release from World Superbike…
(May 29, 2020) – The 2020 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is working hard on resuming racing action for the remainder of the season, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Championship started in fine style at Phillip Island and now, Dorna WSBK Organization would like to issue an update on the plans to get racing back under way, with the initial racing plan taking place in the month of August once permission is approved.
The Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto should welcome the restart of the season on July 30 to August 2, before going to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal a week later on August 7-9. The season should then follow the current provisional schedule, at the MotorLand Aragon venue on August 28-30. The health of everybody is at the forefront of decision making and these rounds within the Iberian Peninsula are planned to be held behind closed doors, inline with social distancing measures and medical guidelines set by the Spanish and Portuguese governments. Nevertheless, the situation is evolving, and we will adapt our protocols to the situation of the time.
Furthermore, updates have been made to the following events: the British and Dutch Rounds held at Donington Park and TT Circuit Assen respectively, have been postponed. The Dutch round itself has already been rescheduled once, from April 17-19 to August 21-23. However, new plans are under way with the best interests in mind, given the current restrictions in place that affect major sporting events within both the UK and the Netherlands. Further updates for the end season calendar will be communicated soon in order to further clarify the calendar situation.
The FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization is evaluating the different scenarios and adapting to each situation in each of the countries we should visit on a day-by-day basis. Our gratitude once again goes to all parties involved within the WorldSBK fraternity for their continued support. However, whichever decision is reached will have the health and safety at the forefront and that is something simply uncompromising during these challenging times.
Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director, Sporting and Organization Departments, said: “We are very positive about the future, as all the signs are pointing in a good direction to start in Jerez. We are looking at all possible scenarios for all three classes to race, although we continue to work hard on finding the optimum scenario for all parties. A lot will depend on the measures that various governments will implement. As for Donington Park and Assen, we are working with the circuits and governments to establish the best possible outcome for all, with the intention to hold those rounds towards the end of the 2020 season.”
For more information, visit www.worldsbk.com
