World Superbike adds Vallelunga as ‘back-up’ track

The World Superbike Championship has taken the unprecedented steps of adding the Vallelunga circuit to it’s 2015 and 2016 calendars as a ‘back-up’ track in case of other tracks being unable to host their scheduled races.

The series has come under fire in recently years after being reduced in size for two years in a row after the withdrawal of the Moscow round for political reasons and the scheduled South African race at Kyalami due to finances.

Vallelunga, outside Rome and the home track for former champion Max Biaggi, has past form in the series, hosting rounds in 2007 and 2008.

Speaking when the announcement was made, WSBK Executive Director Javier Alonso commented: “The 2015, thirteen-round calendar guarantees the stability we were looking for since DWO started managing the series. Unfortunately, events of force majeure – like last year’s situation with the South African round – can still happen and this is why we came up with this solution together with the Vallelunga Circuit Managers.

“Although we hope not to be in the position to act on this procedure in future, this agreement is already offering a positive outcome for both parties.”

Ruggero Campi, President of ACI Vallelunga, added: “The Autodromo Vallelunga ‘Piero Taruffi’ is pleased to have been chosen by Dorna WSBK as a back-up circuit for the top production-based motorcycle series and to possibly make its return to world level competition. Vallelunga has always been considered a very technical circuit, loved by fans and riders. It is a track used for many development tests and has all of the necessary requirements to host a World Championship round.

“Located just a few kilometres from the Italian capital, Vallelunga is the ‘Circuit of Rome’ and would be able to welcome spectators coming from both the centre and the south of Italy to enjoy the experience of pure motorsport.”