WSB: British, Dutch and Qatari 2020 rounds cancelled

The World Superbike Championship won’t have a British round for the first time in its history due to this year’s trip to Donington Park being cancelled.

The FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) confirmed this morning that the British round had been removed from this year’s calendar. The Dutch round at Assen and the Qatari round at Losail have also been cancelled. 

Assen has been a permanent fixture on the calendar since 1992, ending a streak of the longest continually serving venue in WSB.

All three rounds were listed as ‘to be determined’ when the updated calendar was revealed a few weeks ago. The WSB 2020 season, like sport around the world, has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Gregorio Lavilla, Executive Director of the Sporting and Organisation Departments commented: “I am personally very sad to announce the subsequent cancellations of the three rounds. As a fan of our sport, I am extremely saddened not to go to WorldSBK’s birthplace at Donington Park and the ‘Cathedral of Speed’ at Assen, a track which has featured on our calendar uninterrupted since 1992. I am equally as sad not to not have the spectacle of a night race in Qatar, always something we look forward to.

“We explored all avenues in order to find a solution but unfortunately, one could not be found. However, this mustn’t cast a cloud over the Championship. The majority of our events in 2020 will happen and plans for a full, complete 2021 are well underway. We would like to thank everyone involved for their tireless work and cooperation, and also the fans for waiting patiently before our season resumes.”

As it stands, this year’s WSB season will come to an end at Magny-Cours on October 2-4. The Argentinian (Circuito San Juan Villicum) and Italian (Misano) rounds are both still listed as ‘to be determined’.

Today’s statement says that any further updates will be communicated accordingly in due course.