WorldSBK Executive Director Gregorio Lavilla has revealed that plans for extra-EU races fell through due to “factors out of our control.”
As usual, the new WorldSBK season commenced at Phillip Island in Australia, but the remaining 11 rounds are located in Europe.
The current calendar includes two rounds in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, with the remaining five weekends held in England, the Netherlands, Czechia, France, and Hungary.
In recent years the series travelled to Argentina and Indonesia, but both circuits haven’t been used since 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Speaking to GPOne, Lavilla explained that plans were in place to return to South America and Asia but fell through at the final hurdle.
“Yes, that’s clearly the case. We were planning to do two extra-EU races, we had agreements and contracts with Argentina and Indonesia.
“Then there were factors out of our control that prevented us from finalising the program. We need to take this up again and do it positively, even though things are changing and with time it seems to get more and more difficult.
“Costs are rising, but that does not mean we should not try.
“There are some standing talks, and I would be happy to give some news myself first. But I prefer to wait until there is a concrete foundation.”
SBK’s long-term direction will be ‘more and more complex’
Lavilla explained that he sees the long-term direction of WorldSBK being “more and more complex” due to the lack of control over what manufactures sell.
MotoGP will undergo the biggest regulation shakeup in 2027, which will see the full introduction of sustainable fuel and a reduction in engine size from 1000c to 850cc.
“In my opinion, SBK will become more and more complex,” he said.
“In MotoGP the rules will still change, certain differences will be reduced, but on some aspects technology will still make a difference there.
“It’s also clear that in SBK we have to bring the track what the manufacturer sells on the market, but this for example is something we have no control over.
“Then there is also a safety aspect, because sometimes it is difficult for tracks to keep up with the advancement of performance.
“Then we also have to think that no one wants to be the cause of slowing down the bikes.
“The suspension supplier, the brake supplier, the tyre supplier. No one wants to be singled out as the case for slower superbikes.”
