It seems sometimes that the title “World Sueprbike” is a bit of a misnomer, as the premier production motorcycle racing championship is hardly a worldly affair at all. With fourteen races on the 2012 World Superbike Championship calendar, WSBK will leave Europe a grand total of two times: once for the season-opener at Phillip Island, and once for the American round at Miller Motorsports Park. Holding the other twelve races on the European continent, World Superbike is really stretching its legs this year by holding a race outside of Moscow, Russia.
Progress will apparently be made to rectify this situation though, as starting in 2013 World Superbike will head to Indonesia with a five year contract (races to be held 2013-2017). Set to either end the 2013 calendar with a race at the Sentul International Circuit, or lump the race at the beginning of the season with Phillip Island, the announcement ends s 15 year draught of WSBK racing in Indonesia. Infront and the FIM clearly must be recognizing that the Southeast Asian country is a hot bed for the motorcycle industry (Jakarta is A&R‘s single-largest city of readership).
“We are proud of the growth of the Superbike calendar, which thanks to the inclusion of the latest rounds is obtaining a presence in countries of major importance for the development of our championship on a sporting and commercial level,” announced Infront Motor Sports President Maurizio Flammini. “After Russia, where Superbike has now arrived before any other world motorsport championship, thanks to more than two years of intense work in the Asian area, we have now been able to insert Indonesia, which has in the past already played host to a race of considerable success and appeal, in the calendar.”
Extremely Eurocentric, World Superbike is surely feeling the decline it sport bike purchases in Europe, as well as the overall struggling motorcycle economy in the EU. While MotoGP is more diversified in its market placements, WSBK is making a much more decisive move by choosing to host a race in Indonesia and other locations. Helping ensure its success, Infront has secured the aid of the Indonesian government, which has devoted a task force to being handling and promoting the race.
Infront also made it clear in its announcement that a race at the Buddh International Circuit in India is next on the list of venues to be added to the World Superbike Championship’s calendar. Locking down races in two of the most important motorcycle markets, Infront is setting up WSBK to have a much greater relevancy to OEMs and sponsors. Dorna, are you reading this?
Source: WSBK
Yes, I’m proud to be Indonesian :)
I hope our country will be a good place to held World SBK Championship, just can’t wait to see the race!
Agree totally on the NOT so worldly bit but they are taking the lead in exploring new markets. It would be interesting to see a comparison between the emerging Asian Economies vs. Europe in the Sportbike segement specifically . I still see smaller displacement machines dominating there and Europe & America (for now) outperforming Asia in terms of Fireblade and R1 sales as an example. On a recent visit to Thailand, Phuket, I managed to see all but ONE R1 & 10 Million scooters. I got the impression that bigger bikes were pointless there as its near impossible to get to any road worth riding and if you did, you probably needed to own it . Good on the “European” Superbike Championship for taking the show to untapped territories.
@Peter Pan
Because in here, you have to be sooo rich to buy those bikes (superbike, supersport, an such).
Why? First, the price of those bikes is drastically increased when it comes to our country (especially Indonesia, that’s so far I know). for example; the price of the brand new Ninja ZX-10R in Europe is $9,799.00 which is around Rp. 89,244,098.53 when converted to IDR, but…if you look for it at all Kawasaki Dealer in Indonesia, the price is Rp. 223,000,000.00! (its more than double the price!!!). I dunno why it must be like that, I’m a high school student after all (maybe it’s because the tax, etc).
Second, the yearly tax we have to pay for the bikes is doubled because the goverment has decided to doubled the tax for luxury vehicle (supersport and superbikes is considered as luxury vehicle here in Indonesia).
That’s why you’ll rarely see people own/use those bikes, besides…the rule in our country said that bike with displacement higher than 250 is not allowed in public road (the reverse of Europe rule I think)…
So, although the fact is like that, people here really enthusiast when it comes to sportbikes championship (WSBK or MotoGP), you see that “SEMAKIN DI DEPAN” on M1? It’s Indonesian language because Yamaha Indonesia have a big role to support Yamaha Team in MotoGP :)
That’s all I wanna share, sorry for my bed english, and just correct me if I wrong…
I imagine that if Dorna were to take MotoGP to Indonesia, the Moto3 and Moto2 classes would prove to be exceptionally relevant to the markets there.
@Peter Pan
You’re wrong dude.
People in south east asia buy small displacement bike because it’s cheap and very efficient in fuel consumption. The other reason is, big displacement bike price is doubled or even tripled here (In Indonesia) because of stupid rule created by our governor. Bike with displacement larger than 250 cc is considered as a luxury vehicle so you must pay tax 100% of the bike price. And 100% is the minimum tax value for a luxury vehicle. Even, you have to pay 200% for other kind of vehicle depend on the price. And for the cars, it is considered as luxury if its displacement is larger than 2000 cc.
Do you want to know how much a new Yamaha R1 is here? It’s about $38,000.
And did you know how much a used R1 here? It’s about $15,000.
Insane…
That’s we have a thought: with that money, it’s better to buy a car than a superbike.
Only a few people own superbikes here. And they are considered as richer people
Fvcking stupid governor created that rule… It’s an old rule that still exists. But our economy is growing now. Actually we can afford those big bike if the tax is not that high. We love big bikes too…
Our people love racing. We love to watch racing like MotoGP, WSBK and F1 in TV. It doesn’t have relationship with which bikes is racing or is it big bike or small bike. As long as it is a popular racing, we love to watch it.
@Trane Francks
No need for moto3 or moto2. As long as it is a popular racing, we love to watch it. We always watch MotoGP and WSBK in local TV. And we are the number 3 of largest motorcycle buyer in the world. That’s why you can see the tagline “semakin di depan” on M1 or “satu hati” on RC212V. Yamaha and Honda gain a lot of money from us. They can sell million bikes in a year here. They are competing each other in our country. So in order to prove which is better, they should win in MotoGP. Because that is one of the way to increase their sales. Eventhough they only sell small bikes here.
Maybe you will laugh at this picture
http://www.pricearea.com/images/listing/19am10may11/703965221.jpg
But, by doing this and participate in MotoGP, they can sell million scooters and moped bikes
That’s how they are success selling the motorcycle
That’s the story of motorcycling in my country. Sorry for bad English…
Andre: The smaller displacement classes tend to offer better racing, in my opinion. Also, KTM and Aprillia have had competitive bikes in the 125cc class. I’m VERY much looking forward to watching the Moto3 class this year. And the 600s in Moto2 have all the “backing it into corners” that used to be a feature of MotoGP, but which has largely been removed by the use of sophisticated electronics in the premier class.
Then again, maybe it’s just me. I’ve always had a great love for small-displacement sport bikes. <3
andre, seen that ad for honda blade or watever? tagged ‘real racing spirit’. fucking hilarious.