The World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) outlined plans to explore new markets, including China, for its 2027 season as part of a strategic roadmap approved July 31, 2026. According to officials, the roadmap aims to balance manufacturer costs with performance while expanding the championship’s global footprint, with Ningbo emerging as a potential venue.
This roadmap, published on the official WorldSBK website, sets the framework for the championship’s technical and sporting evolution while explicitly linking regulatory stability to a broader plan for global expansion, including the exploration of new markets, according to official statements from Dorna, the series’ commercial rights holder.
The SBK Commission, comprising the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), Dorna Sports, and the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association (MSMA), formally approved a strategic roadmap for World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) regulations covering 2027 to 2030 on July 31, 2026.
While the roadmap does not explicitly name China or the Ningbo International Circuit, it serves as the current reference document guiding medium-term calendar and market-expansion decisions, officials said. The plan emphasizes balancing manufacturer costs with performance as a prerequisite for adding new venues and regions to the calendar.
A provisional outline of the 2027 WorldSBK calendar, as reported by specialist media, indicates a schedule of approximately 12 to 13 rounds with several open slots for additional events. The traditional European core of Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Portugal is expected to remain intact. However, sources confirmed that Dorna is actively evaluating additional destinations in Asia, leaving some calendar slots unassigned to accommodate potential long-haul events.
The official WorldSBK ticket platform currently lists several countries for the 2027 season, including Australia, Portugal, the Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Aragón, but does not yet include any Chinese venues. The platform notes that the full 2027 calendar is “coming soon,” reflecting that the schedule has not been finalized.
Phillip Island Circuit in Australia has officially announced it will host Round 1 of the 2027 WorldSBK season from February 19 to 21, 2027. This confirmation is among the first fully verified calendar entries and underscores WorldSBK’s ongoing commitment to the Asia-Pacific region, which historically has included multiple long-haul stops beyond Australia. Scheduling experts note that with Phillip Island fixed in late February, a logical window exists for another Asia-based event either immediately before or after, which would optimize transport and logistics for teams. Any future Chinese round at Ningbo would likely be evaluated within this Asia-Pacific cluster, sources said.
As of the latest official communications and public calendars, China is not listed as a confirmed host country for any 2027 WorldSBK round. No official FIM or Dorna press release has designated Ningbo International Circuit or any other Chinese facility as a confirmed or provisional venue for 2027. WorldSBK and FIM documents do not mention Ningbo in the approved roadmap or calendar listings, and any suggestion that WorldSBK targets Ningbo for 2027 is currently prospective and under negotiation rather than confirmed fact, according to official sources.
Media speculation and expert analyses have noted that WorldSBK promoters are looking to expand beyond Europe for the 2027 season and beyond, with Asia identified as an under-exploited region. China, due to its market size and manufacturer presence, is considered a logical candidate for future expansion. However, experts highlight that any new rounds, including those in China, depend on track homologation, local promoter agreements, financial guarantees, and approvals by FIM and Dorna before a calendar slot can be awarded.
Under the 2027–2030 roadmap, new circuits must meet updated technical and sporting regulations, including safety standards, run-off areas, and infrastructure requirements. The SBK Commission has emphasized the need for stability in regulations to facilitate long-term planning by manufacturers and teams. New venues like Ningbo would be required to offer sufficient paddock, pit, and support facilities capable of handling modern WorldSBK machinery.
Dorna typically requires multi-year promoter contracts, robust local organization, and guarantees on track availability, broadcast rights, and spectator capacity for any new event. Calendar experts note that adding a long-haul event such as Ningbo would necessitate careful freight planning, including sea and air freight timelines and cost-sharing mechanisms, which are key logistical considerations for WorldSBK teams.
The confirmed 2027 regulatory roadmap and the official confirmation of Phillip Island as the season opener provide a structural basis for integrating new events, including potential Asian rounds, if homologation and commercial conditions are met. However, as of the latest public documents, China and Ningbo remain absent from the official 2027 calendar and ticketing listings.
WorldSBK officials and Dorna representatives have reiterated their commitment to global expansion, with Asia, including China, identified as a key market for growth. Nonetheless, no formal announcement has been made regarding a WorldSBK event at Ningbo in 2027. The championship’s calendar and venue decisions will continue to evolve as homologation, contractual, and logistical conditions are finalized in the coming months.
