World Superbikes releases new 2020 calendar
The Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WSBK) has confirmed a restart of its 2020 season, releasing a new provisional calendar and announcing a major change to the schedule for the support categories.
Only the opening round at Phillip Island had been completed before the coronavirus pandemic brought an end to racing globally, but following discussions with the FIM, various governments, circuit owners, paddock personnel and Dorna’s WSBK Organization, racing is now ready to resume.
Under a provisional calendar released on 19 June, racing will recommence at Jerez on 31 July, before moving to Portimao, Aragon, Catalunya and Magny-Cours. This European section of the revised WSBK championship will be followed by TBC rounds at Villicum in Argentina, then Misano, Donington Park, Assen and Losail.
While the entire calendar is provisional, subject to evolving COVID-19 conditions, all rounds after Magny-Cours are even more provisional, with no dates at all attached to the Donington, Assen and Losail rounds.
The European rounds will be held without spectators and with a limited media presence initially, but Dorna says this may change, subject to specific government guidelines on mass gatherings.
2020 World Superbike Championship calendar (19 June, 2020)*
Round Date Country Circuit
Rd01 28 Feb-01 Mar Australia Phillip Island
Rd02 31 Jul-02 Aug Spain Jerez
Rd03 07-09 Aug Portugal Portimao
Rd04 28-30 Aug Spain Aragon
Rd05 04-06 Sep Spain Aragon
Rd06 18-20 Sep Spain Catalunya
Rd07 02-04 Oct France Magny-Cours
Rd08 09-11 Oct Argentina San Juan de Villicum†
Rd09 06-08 Nov Italy/San Marino Misano†
Rd10 TBD United Kingdom Donington Park‡
Rd11 TBD Netherlands Assen‡
Rd12 TBD Qatar Losail‡
* subject to ongoing COVID-19 conditions
†event to be confirmed
‡round to be determined
Double Up for World Supersport, World Supersport 300
The other major change that came on 19 June was to the schedule for the race weekend. There will be no alteration for World Superbikes, but the support categories of World Supersport and World Supersport 300 will race twice at each of the upcoming rounds. While World Supersport 300 (WSS300) has held two races per round in the past (as well as a “last chance” race to determine the final grid), this has been in response to weather-related cancellations. For World Supersport, the two-race concept will be a first.
Under the new schedule, Friday’s Free practice sessions will essentially be unchanged, as will the third FP session and Superpole for all classes on the Saturday morning.
After the WSS300 last chance race, WSBK Race 1 will be held at approximately 2:00pm, followed by WSS Race 1 at 3:15pm and WSS300 Race 1 at 4:30pm. Normally, the first WSBK race is the only competition held on the Saturday.
Sunday’s schedule starts with the usual warm-up sessions, then the WSBK Tissot Superpole Race late in the morning. WSS Race 2 will be held at 12:30pm, then WSBK Race 2 at 2:00pm, with WSS300 Race 2 completing the round’s programme at 3:15pm.
While lap lengths for the additional WSS and WSS300 races are yet to be confirmed, each will be for full championship points for each category.
Speaking of the new provisional calendar and the changes to the race schedule, Dorna’s Executive Director, WorldSBK Sporting and Organisation departments, Gregorio Lavilla, said: “Firstly, it is a great satisfaction that we can announce a safe return to racing for all three classes.
“The history of both WorldSSP and WorldSSP300 enriches the atmosphere of the WorldSBK paddock, often providing some of the closest racing all season, as well as allowing the stars of the future to flourish on the world stage.
“2020 has provided its obstacles but thanks to the hard work, tenacity and determination of all parties involved, we will return to the world’s circuits with all three classes. We now look forward hugely to the recommencement of racing at Jerez, whilst welcoming back all corners of the racing paddock.”
