Provisional 2013 World Superbike Championship Calendar Released

Thu, 11 Oct 2012

The International Motorcycling Federation released a provisional calendar for the 2013 World Superbike Championship. The 2013 season will see a new round in India, the return of Jerez, and Laguna Seca replacing Miller Motorsports Park as the series’ lone U.S. stop.

The 2013 WSBK season kicks off Feb. 26 at Australia’s Phillip Island circuit with Superbikes supported by the World Supersport Championship. Two weeks later, the series will make its Indian debut at the Buddh International Circuit near New Delhi.

The series then shifts to Europe starting with Spain’s Aragon circuit where the Superstock class will begin its 2013 season.

As previously reported, WSBK will make its return to Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., replacing Miller Motorsports Park. The Laguna Seca round will take place Sept. 29 and will feature only the WSBK class, with neither the Supersport or Superstock classes traveling to the U.S. It’s not clear yet what other races will run on the undercard. The obvious answer is AMA Pro Racing, but the national series traditionally runs alongside the MotoGP Championship’s stop in Monterey in June.

Spain’s Jerez circuit returns to the calendar and will host the series’ final round on Oct. 20.

The 15-round schedule still has a couple of question marks. The Portimao round in Portugal is moving up earlier in the season to June 9. The round is still subject to contract negotiations, though a formal agreement is expected soon. The calendar also has a round penciled in for June 23 with a location to be announced. That spot will likely go to either Italy’s Misano circuit or Brno in the Czech Republic, both of which were on the schedule this season.

Provisional 2013 WSBK Calendar:

February 26 – Australia – Phillip Island March 10 – India – Buddh Circuit 7 April 7 – Spain – Aragon April 28 – The Netherlands – Assen May 12 – Italy – Monza May 26 – U.K. – Donington June 9 – Portugal – Portimao (Subject to Contract) June 23 – TBA – TBA June 30 – Italy – Imola July 21 – Russia – Moscow Raceway August 4 – UK – Silverstone September 1 – Germany – Nurburgring September 29 – U.S.A. – Laguna Seca October 6 – France – Magny Cours October 20 – Spain – Jerez

[Source: FIM]

By Dennis Chung