2013 World SBK Calendar
As the World Superbike Championship enters its 26th year in 2013, 15 rounds will be featured on the schedule.
The newest additions are the Buddh International Circuit near New Delhi in India, Jerez in Spain, and the one that’s going to excite American World SBK fans – Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway. World Superbike has only visited the Jerez circuit – a normal on the MotoGP schedule – one other time back in 1990.
On Jan. 15, the FIM moved the Buddh WSBK date from March 10 to Nov. 17, which is the final round.
Speaking of this change, the FIM says: “The World Superbike race in India has been moved from 10 March to 17 November due to an insufficient period of time to properly finalize the training of the marshals and medical staff around the racetrack.
“FIM representatives will be at the Indian track on 19, 20, and 21 this January in order to carry out the final racetrack homologation and provide the relevant seminars about the different aspects involved in the sporting organization of the event.”
The 2013 World Superbike schedule is lacking three circuits that were on the 2012 calendar – Misano (San Marino), Brno (Czech Republic) and Miller Motorsports Park (Utah, USA). But one of these may return (likely Brno or Misano).
In February, World Superbike, which will be marketed under the same umbrella as MotoGP with Dorna Sports, confirmed it would return to Sentul, Indonesia, where the series competed from 1994 to 1997. But things appear to be pushed back another year. Portimao is scheduled for round 8 June 7-9, but is still subject to contract.
As tradition, the 2013 World Superbike Championship will get underway at Phillip Island, next year’s Australian race held Feb. 22-24. World Superbike will also hold the official test the Monday and Tuesday before the season at Phillip Island, which is the most frequently visited venue in World SBK history. The series has met there 22 times since 1988.
The 2013 World Superbike finale will take place Nov. 17 at Buddh International Circuit. Heading into 2013 World Superbike, the man who would have donned the number-one plate, Max Biaggi, retired. The Aprilia Racing Team rider won the 2012 World SBK Championship, his second title in the series (first arriving in 2010 with Aprilia).
2013 World Superbike Provisional Calendar:
- February 24: Phillip Island, Australia
- April 14: Aragon, Spain
- April 28: Assen, The Netherlands
- May 12: Monza, Italy
- May 26: Donington, United Kingdom
- June 9: Portimao, Portugal
- June 23: TBA
- June 30: Imola, Italy
- July 21: Moscow Raceway, Russia
- August 4: Silverstone, UK
- September 1: Nurburgring, Germany
- September 29: Laguna Seca, USA
- October 6: Magny-Cours, France
- October 20: Jerez, Spain
- November 17: Buddh International Circuit, India