Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/422367
IN THE WIND P32 WORLD SUPERBIKE 2015 T he 2015 Superbike World Championship calendar was unveiled in its full form and con- tained one surprise addition and one deduction. The 12 rounds that made up the 2014 season all return, but the new total of 14 now includes a return for the Moscow Raceway in early July and the already an- nounced addition of the Chang International Circuit in Thailand on March 27, forming round two. Moscow, Portimao and Losail are all still subject to contract, but two of the three are fully ex- pected to run. The much-vaunt- ed round in Chile has not materi- alized as planned. The many complaints of mas- sive gaps in the 2014 calendar will be quieted in only a small way, with the summer break shifting back to give most of August and half of September free, rather than two full months off like in 2014. There is still a big gap of a month between round one in Australia and two in Thailand. The only back-to-back weekends are between Aragon (12 April) and As- sen one weekend later, with the usual Sunday race. The most notable yet predict- able aspect of the race line-up is the increased number of ex- tra-European rounds. Australia, Thailand, USA, Malaysia and Qatar are all full-blown fly-aways, while Russia is half-and-half in most team's eyes. Still no Ger- man round, as Europe's biggest country cannot find a slot at one of its many top quality circuits for a World Superbike round yet again. As well as the races, there will be three official test sessions. Two days prior to the opening round in Australia in February on Monday the 16th and Tuesday the 17th, plus post-race tests at Portimao on June 8 and Jerez on September 21. There will be Supersport World Championship races at all rounds except Laguna, while the Stock 1000 class rides at Motorland, Assen, Imola, Don- ington (for a change), Portimao, Misano, Jerez and Magny Cours. There will be two races for the Stock 600 class at Motorland Aragon, but none at Donington. Gordon Ritchie World Superbike announced its 2015 schedule with three of the 14 rounds still subject to contract. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE The 2015 World Superbike Championship schedule is as follows: FEBRUARY 22: Phillip Island - Australia MARCH 22: Chang International Circuit - Thailand APRIL 12: MotorLand Aragón - Spain APRIL 19: TT Circuit Assen - Netherlands MAY 10: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola - Italy MAY 24: Donington Park – United Kingdom JUNE 7: Autódromo Internacional do Algarve - Portugal JUNE 21: Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli - Italy JULY 5: Moscow Raceway - Russia JULY 19: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, California AUGUST 2: Sepang International Circuit - Malaysia SEPTEMBER 20: Jerez Circuit - Spain OCTOBER 4: Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours - France OCTOBER 18: Losail International Circuit - Qatar