2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
preliminary calendar update
Autodrom Most will make its debut on the WorldSBK calendar in 2021 after signing a five-year deal, while the Australian Round is set to return in 2022.
FIM, Autodrom Most and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) are pleased to announce a new agreement that will run the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship race in the Czech Republic from 2021. The five-year agreement means that the Czech round will be in the WorldSBK calendar by 2025 with an announcement at a presentation in Prague on Thursday, April 29th.
Autodrom Most will host the Czech lap for the first time as it joins the WorldSBK calendar, with the Czech circuit hosting the sixth lap of the 2021 season from August 6-8. All three classes as well as the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup will compete in the Autodrom Most, which includes two Czech drivers in the WorldSSP300 with Petr Svoboda and Oliver König as well as the Accolade Smrz Racing Team led by Jakub Smrz.
The Autodrom Most, located near Prague, opened in 1983 and was the first permanent motorsport complex in what was then Czechoslovakia. The circuit has hosted many motorsport events, including national motorcycle championships, and will be a new, exciting addition to WorldSBK in 2021; while the venue for the championship fits into the circuit’s commitment to being part of the sporting, social and cultural life of the region Following a five-year agreement with DWO, the event will also be broadcast live on the Czech broadcaster Nova Sport.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the FIM, the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and the DWO have agreed that there will be no edition of the Australian Round in 2021. We will now campaign in the most successful way as the first event of the 2022 championship for a return to the legendary venue in 2022.
Josef Zajíček, CEO of Autodrom Most: “This is a milestone and a unique event in the almost 40-year history of Autodrom. We will be organizing World Cup races for the first time. This fact places high technical and organizational demands on us. Nevertheless, we gladly accept this challenge. Our goal is to open our complex to the general public, which is why we need to offer our racing fans the best possible events; the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is undoubtedly one of these events. We will ensure that drivers, teams, partners, sponsors and spectators can be absolutely satisfied with us and look forward to the next edition of this fantastic show with strong machines and courageous drivers. “
Jan Šťovíček, President of the Czech Automobile Club: “As the spokesman for the Automobile Club of the Czech Republic, the national authority on motorcycling, I am delighted to see Czech fans on a Czech track at world-class motorcycle road races, and I am equally glad that I was able to contribute to this event.” . A benefit for the organizer of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, of course: Acquiring a new track with an attractive profile and an experienced organizational team is currently not easy. “
David Bennett, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, General Manager: “Phillip Island has hosted more World Superbike events than any other circuit in the world. We agree that now is the time to focus our efforts on the Official Test and Season Opening Round in 2022. The decision not to hold a round in 2021 will not adversely affect the continuation of the event. The event is secured for the Phillip Island Circuit until 2027. “
Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director: “We are very pleased to have the Autodrom Most on our calendar for the next five seasons. Today’s announcement that WorldSBK will return to the Czech Republic for the first time since 2018 reflects the championship’s continued popularity with Czech fans. With Czech teams and drivers in the paddock, this is a great opportunity to showcase the Czech Republic on a world stage and I trust that Autodrom Most will host exciting events in the future. With regard to Australia, everyone involved has decided that analyzing the recent changes to all major motorsport events and given the current uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, the best solution is to postpone the event to our usual date for the start of the season in 2022 I look forward to look forward to returning next year with the Australian Round, a key event in the championship. “
With the 2021 season set to start in less than a month, FIM and the Dorna WSBK organization are constantly working with government officials and circles to keep everyone’s safety first. Any further updates to the WorldSBK Calendar 2021 will be communicated accordingly.