Infront Motor Sports and the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca have agreed to a three-year contract, which sees World Superike racing returning to the coastal California circuit. The American round for the 2013, 2014, and 2015 WSBK seasons, Laguna Seca replaces Miller Motorsports Park, with this announcement, as the sole-destination for the premier production motorcycle racing class.
Returning back to Laguna Seca after an eight-year hiatus, Infront cites that Seca’s vital location near the motorcycle industry, as well as its rising attendance as the main reasons for the switch from Miller. However, we think US fans will agree though that Miller provided an excellent venue for WSBK, and that the World Superbike Championship could benefit from having more than one American-based round, especially considering how many stops on its calendar are still in Europe.
“We are absolutely delighted to be returning to Laguna Seca for the US Round for the first time since 2004,” declared Paolo Flammini, CEO of Infront Motor Sports. “Over the ten-year period in which we were last there, we witnessed an extraordinary growth in interest and in overall attendance and we are sure that this event will once again become one of the most prestigious on the calendar.”
“The return of Laguna Seca to the Superbike World Championship, with its six competing manufacturers, will definitely be a boost to the championship’s growth in the US market as California has a special tradition and offers significant opportunities for the motorcycle industry, sponsors and media,” added Flammini.
“We have a strong history with World Superbike and are thrilled to have them commit to a three-year race schedule,” said Gill Campbell, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca CEO/General Manager. “Their return to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca solidifies our position as THE premier circuit in the U.S. for motorcycle racing.”
Source: WSBK
AWWWWWEEEEEEESSSSOOOOOMMMMMMMEEEEEEE!
Maybe we can convince the AMA boys to run on the WSBK weekend so we can FINALLY see some moto2/moto3 action here on the Best Coast!!
YES!
woohoo!
Now we can watch some REAL racing – LIVE!
I’m happy for WSBK but really bummed out for the loss of miller. Miller was the closest track that I can make it to. Oh wells it gives me a reason to go back to Cali.
Would like to see Barber get a WSBK round.
Booo. There are enough races at Laguna, and they have a limited number of race weekends. I’d be ok with WSBK adding Laguna, but not instead of. And I’d don’t give a rat’s ass about where the industry is. Don’t need a reminder that I am screwed just because I live somewhere other than LA.
Great, a man’s track.
I had such a blast watching the GP at Laguna this year, but all I kept thinking was how awesome it would be for WSBK to be back.
As soon as the provisional calender is announced I am going to start looking for flights!
: )
@Damo: It’ll be the weekend of September 27-29, 2013. I’m surprised Jensen didn’t include that in the article.
@Jake
Thanks for the heads up. That will be the optimal for me to get out there, conveniently enough.
“Don’t need a reminder that I am screwed just because I live somewhere other than LA.”
Aren’t more bikes sold in the rust belt than California?
So the CEO/GM of Laguna says this establishes the track as the THE premier site for motorcycle racing, eh?
Does GM mean genetically modified in this case? Because if you want to go to a track day there, the scheduling is done by morons and is unavailable for MONTHS after every other track in the state has posted theirs. WORSE, the noise level of 92 db is less than realistic and is 10 db less than any other track in CA because of the rich b@sturds who bought and built their homes DECADES after the track was already there. These people make life hell for everyone and their aim is to completely get rid of the track!
Now add to that the fact that it is owned by the county of Monterey and you get a system for selling track days to the providers that is so political that it rivals the stink of raw sewage spilling into the bay. You end up with 2nd rate AND unknowns getting dates for a track day that is poorly run, dangerous and frequently they back out altogether at the last minute because they can’t sign up enough people.
No other track runs track days like this anywhere in this state. But then, it is California…somebody has to act like a fruitcake to keep the state’s image in the gutter.
Barber would be great venue!