WSBK Remains “Top Priority” Among Dorna Plans

Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has reassured that the 2020 World Superbikes season remains a “top priority” among plans to get motorcycle racing back on track.

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has put the championship on hold since its opening round in Australia back in February with no definite plan as to when and where the next event will be staged.

However, Ezpeleta has now confirmed intent to get the season running again as soon as it is safe to do so.

The proposed scheme means WorldSBK could proceed with a minimum of six more rounds and in a joint approach with MotoGP that would see the two series run at the same circuits on consecutive weekends.

Speaking in a roundtable teleconference, Ezpeleta stated:

“Many of the circuits we will go to will organise one or two races of MotoGP and then one round of WorldSBK. We are managing that. There are some circuits that do not host both but of course, our priority is to have WorldSBK and for sure, to have a minimum number of rounds.”

Carmelo Ezpeleta

In difference to MotoGP, the WorldSBK season did get underway as scheduled with races on Phillip Island that produced some of the closest finishes in the championship’s history.

The event was followed by numerous postponements and cancellations and Donington Park at the start of July now stands as the provisional second round of the year but looks under threat of cancellation as well.

A joint approach between WorldSBK and MotoGP with the two series running at the same venues would simplify the hosting of events with the infrastructure to fulfil the strict measures in terms of paddock safety and medical provisions already in place.

“In WorldSBK, we already have one round in Australia, and then we are looking to have a minimum of six to seven more. This is what we are considering but it also depends on the situation because the medical protocols must be the same as MotoGP more or less. We are studying together with WorldSBK what the best calendar is. But of course, we will try; it is a priority for us to have WorldSBK races.”