Qatar to host second round of 2020 world superbike championship

Losail International Circuit is set to host the second round of the 2020 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as per the calendar adopted by the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) and Dorna WSBK Organization.

Taking place across 11 different countries and four different continents, the 2020 season will begin at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit which will host the traditional season opener in Australia on February 28, and will conclude at Circuito San Juan Villicum in Argentina on October 11.

New for 2020, the tournament will fly then to Qatar, a few weeks after Australia, to compete under the dazzling floodlights of Losail International Circuit for Round Two instead of the final Round 13 which it has hosted for six consecutive years. The amended was officially approved during the FIM General Assembly meeting.

Hosting of Round Two at Losail International Circuit will give momentum and excitement to the competitions in Doha, especially since winning the title in recent years has been determined before the final round in Doha.

By hosting Round Two of 2020 World Superbike Championship in March, Qatar will be organizing this international event for the twelfth time. Since joining the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, Lusail has been hosting the opening round for five consecutive years until 2011. Since 2014, Lusail has been hosting the final round.

Losail International Circuit is the first lighted circuit in the world to host one of the World Superbike Championship rounds. The track is equipped with floodlights at a huge cost with 1200 columns carrying 3500 laser lights. The circuit is located on the outskirts of the Doha desert and is the second longest track after the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherland with a length of 5.4 km and a width of 21 meters.

According to the calendar, Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto will host the first European Round, welcoming back WorldSSP300 to the action. From Spain, the paddock will move north to The Netherlands at the historic ‘Cathedral of Speed’ of TT Circuit Assen for Round 4.

More WorldSBK classic battles are expected in May as Round 5 will take place at the famous Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola in Italy, before the Championship will return to Spain at MotorLand Aragon.

The sunny Riviera di Rimini will host Round 7 at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, a second chance for the Italian fans to enjoy the outstanding battles of the Championship in their country. After a short break, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship will return into action for another ‘classic’, the UK Round at Donington Park circuit.

The Championship will return to Germany to compete at Motosport Arena Oschersleben for Round 9 of the year.

An action-packed September awaits WorldSBK, WorldSSP and WorldSSP300 in 2020. Portimao in Portugal will welcome the series at its roller-coaster style circuit Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. Then the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship will make its debut at the famous Circuit de Barcelona - Catalunya, which will host the series for the first time ever. After Spain, WorldSBK will head straight to France a week later for the final European round of the year and the last round for WorldSSP300 - at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.

The last chequered flag for 2020 will be waved in South America, as Circuito San Juan Villicum in Argentina will host the season finale. (QNA)