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Racing

2011 Provisional World Superbike Calendar

By Jensen Beeler 10/07/2010 3 Comments

Now that MotoGP has finished its provisional calendar, World Superbike can release its dates for the 2011 season. With two tracks yet to be determined (one in Europe, and the other in Italy), the word provisional is very literal for this schedule. The April 17th date is traditionally done at Valencia, but rumors suggest that Dorna has strong-armed the circuit into disallowing World Superbike to race there in 2011.

Where WSBK will go in its stead remains a big question mark, as surely Infront Motors Sports would like an additional round in the ripe Spanish market (WSBK will be at Aragon June 19th as well). The other tentative venue is in Italy, which traditionally is the round at Imola. With budget and safety concerns surrounding the track, it’s again a country WSBK absolutely wants on its schedule, but finding the right host will be an issue.

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Rumors

WSBK Silly Season: Haslam to BMW, Fabrizio to Alstare Suzuki, & Haga to an Aprilia [UPDATED]

By Jensen Beeler 09/21/2010 3 Comments

UPDATE 3: Michel Fabrizio has signed-on with Alstare Suzuki team for 2011.

UPDATE 2: Leon Haslam has signed with the BMW Factory Squad.

UPDATE: It’s being reported that Noriyuki Haga has agreed to ride with the DFX team on a factory Aprilia RSV4, with an announcement delayed out of deference to Biaggi’s impending WSBK crowning.

While the MotoGP silly season is just starting to wind down, the World Superbike shuffling of riders is apparently just getting underway. So far this silly season we’ve seen , confirming that he’d be with Ten Kate Honda next season, despite being only two years into a three year contract, which was a strange announcement at the very least.

After Ducati’s little spat with Infront Motor Sports last month, the Xerox Ducati Team will be no more in 2011, leaving factory riders Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki S.O.L. when it comes to gainful employment, which is where our fist batch of silly season rumors starts us. If Moto.it‘s Carlo Baldi is to be believed (he is the listed press officer for Althea Ducati after all), Haga will find himself on a satellite Aprilia ride, while Michel Fabrizio will go to Alstare Suzuki. If you’re a die-hard WSBK fan you may realize that means that current Alstare Suzuki star Leon Haslam must be finding work elsewhere, with Baldi putting the British rider in the factory BMW squad. Still with us?

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Racing

World Superbike Responds to Ducati Exodus

By Jensen Beeler 08/27/2010 2 Comments

Infront Motor Sports, rights holder to the World Superbike Championship series, has responded to the news that Ducati Corse will be leaving the series in 2011. Responding with an official press release, IMS’s message essentially boils down to poking holes in Ducati’s statement about technical regulations.

Stating that the 2009 season was dominated by the Ducati 1198 Superbike, sans one Ben Spies, the Italian firm has clearly been able to be competitive with the current formula. IMS goes on to basically say that WSBK is about more than one manufacturer, and can’t cater to Ducati’s whims even if they do have a lengthy history together. Check the press release after the jump.

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