Honda representative Jake Dixon is a strong supporter of WorldSBK expanding its calendar and global presence in the future.
The championship has operated a reduced 12-round calendar since 2022, excluding the pandemic-affected 2020 season. Since 2023, it has comprised the traditional season opener at Phillip Island followed by 11 rounds across Europe.
As recently as 2019, the championship also raced in the United States, Thailand, Argentina and Qatar, but following the COVID-19 pandemic, it has focused almost exclusively on European markets, with Australia now the only flyaway round.
Dixon, who has spent the past few seasons competing in Moto2 and racing across 20 to 22 weekends each year, believes WorldSBK should expand beyond its current 12-round calendar.
“I think for me, there need to be more races, more overseas races would be better, and just more races in general,” Dixon told media, including Motorsport Week, at Donington Park.
“I think, one, I think you’d get in a rhythm a bit more. Two, it would limit the testing a little bit more, and do a bit more racing, and I think that’s better.
“And then three, I think, it’s better that we push out to being in other countries, like, say, Thailand, or Japan, or other countries that are being in the population of motorbikes, I think. And you just be in that rhythm a bit more.”
Speedweek reported that the core venues will remain on the calendar for 2027, but only Jerez and Balaton Park have yet to confirm its placement.
Due to existing agreements covering only 12 events, there are currently no plans to expand the calendar, as any additional race would have to be financially self-sustaining for promoter Liberty.
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