WSB: Series set to confirm 2019 calendar shake up

While news on the 2019 World Superbike calendar has been traditionally late coming, MCN understands the 2019 World Superbike championship will take place over 14 rounds with a number of key changes.

Any chances of the British round moving to the new Lake Torrent circuit in Northern Ireland seem to be slipping away as the project developer, Manna Developments Ltd, with whom Dorna signed a three-year-deal to host a round of the series from 2019, entered receivership last week.

However, while the British round of the series was initially under threat, MCN understands that race bosses proposed a new date with Donington Park at the start of the July.

South Africa’s Kyalami is set to make a welcome return to the calendar for the first time since 2010 towards the end of July, while Jerez is another track making a comeback after a one-year absence with its early June date.

Laguna Seca has been offered the weekend of 17-18 August, which would dramatically shorten the long summer break World Superbike has been criticised for in the past, but it’s thought the American venue might not be keen. 

The series will begin at Philip Island on 23-24 February and end again in Qatar on the last weekend of October. The longest period between events is a month, however, should Laguna not take place, there will be six weeks of no racing between South Africa and Portugal, but that is still shorter than the nine week break seen this  year.

PROPOSED 2019 CALENDAR
Put together through MCN sources, official calendar expected imminently

23/24 February – Philip Island, Australia

16/17 March – Buriram, Thailand

6/7 April – Aragon, Spain

13/14 April – Assen, Netherlands

11/12 May – Imola, Italy

8/9 June – Jerez, Spain

22/23 June – Misano, Italy

6/7 July – Donington Park, UK – TBC

20/21 July – Kyalami, South Africa – TBC

17/18 August – Laguna Seca, USA – TBC

7/8 September – Portimao, Portugal

28/29 September – Magny Cours, France

12/13 October – San Juan, Argentina

26/27 October – Losail Circuit, Qatar