WSB: 2021 Australian Round postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions

The 2021 Australian round of the World Superbike Championship has been postponed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit announced the postponement today stating that the decisions was made because of the “ongoing complexities, restrictions and risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on a global scale.”

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The famous Australian circuit has been the traditional WSB season opener since 2009 and always produces unpredictable and exciting racing across the race weekend. This year’s event saw three different race winners in the Superbike class for the very first time, with Alex Lowes, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea picking up the victories. 

“We have been closely monitoring the situation in Australia and globally, and working with our stakeholders,” the circuit’s General Manager David Bennett said. “We’ve delayed our decision as late as possible, but unfortunately with the uncertainty that exists in the world today, we are going to have to postpone our World Superbike round.

“I know this means a longer wait for fans, but the world’s leading production riders and their bikes will return to the island for more spectacular racing and the wait, as always, will be worth it.”

Circuit management, Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) and the Victorian Government are already working together to find an alternative date for next season’s Australian round. 

Last week Series Director Gregorio Lavilla suggested that next season’s calendar would consist of “between 11 and 13 rounds in total, with nine to 10 in Europe and two or three non-European rounds.” 

It’s likely that the flyaway rounds of the calendar will take place towards the end of the season. The 2021 calendar is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.