Here’s what’s buzzing these days on the global roadracing scene.
2017 World Superbike calendar released
The provisional calendar for the 2017 World Superbike season has been released, with a couple changes from this past year. The Sepang and Jerez rounds are gone, but Portimao returns to the schedule next year, which is listed below. There’s still a hole in the calendar, on the second-last weekend.
2017 World Superbike provisional calendar
1). Australia (Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit), Feb. 24-26
2). Thailand (Chang International Circuit), March 10-12
3). Spain (Motorland Aragon), March 31-April 2
4). Netherlands (TT Circuit Assen), April 28-30
5). Italy (Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola), May 12-14
6). UK (Donington Park), May 26-28
7). Italy (Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli), June 16-18
8). US (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca), July 7-9
9). Germany (Lausitzring), Aug. 18-20
10). Portugal (Autódromo Internacional do Algarve), Sept. 15-17
11). France (Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours), Sept 29-Oct. 1
12). TBA, Oct. 13-15
13). Quatar (Losail International Circuit), Nov. 2-4
There will also be tests on Feb. 20-21 at Phillip Island, on April 3 at Aragon, and on Sept. 18 at Portimao. World Superbike, World Supersport, World Supersport 300 and Superstock 1000 will attend all rounds, except the first two and the last, which are Superbike/Supersport-only, and the Laguna Seca round, which is Superbike-only.
Sylvain Guintoli to BSB
Sylvain Guintoli is out of World Superbike for now, and headed to British Superbike for next season. Guintoli was atop World Superbike not long ago, winning the 2014 title, and only a few days ago he was asserting he was one of the series’ top riders. He earned a podium for Yamaha in its official return to the WSB series this year, but ended the year a bit banged up by injuries (missing five months due to injury, although he returned after the summer break) and looking for work.
Now he’s over to BSB (with Bennetts Suzuki), but if he puts up good numbers there, the stay might not be long. But, he’s had a home there for years and he’s married to a girl from the UK, so maybe it’s going to be just fine for the French roadracing ace anyway.
Ian Hutchinson back with Tyco BMW
Isle of Man fast guy Ian Hutchinson is back with Tyco BMW for 2017. It’s no surprise, given his alien performance aboard the Beemer last year — he won the North West 200 in the Superstock class last year. He also took second in Superbike and first in Superstock aboard the BMW at the IOMTT (and also won two Supersport races and set an unofficial lap record in Superstock practice).
For 2017, Hutchinson will also race in British Superstock again, as well as the street circuit racing.
