World Superbikes return to Jerez

From the eni FIM Superbike World Championship

ROME, ITALY – Infront Motor Sports and Jerez de la Frontera have announced that the Spanish circuit will join the eni FIM Superbike World Championship calendar from 2013 onwards following an agreement signed Friday in Jerez. The agreement is for three years from 2013 to 2015 inclusive and next year’s race can now be confirmed as the final round of the season on Oct. 20.

Paolo Flammini and Juan Baquero, respectively the CEO of Infront Motor Sports and Jerez de la Frontera, were present at the signing of the contract Friday morning in the Jerez city hall together with the lady mayor of Jerez, María José García Pelayo.

“We are delighted with the addition of another prestigious name to our World Championship calendar,” Flammini said. “Jerez de la Frontera is a circuit that is synonymous with great motorbike racing in general and is situated in a catchment area with an extraordinary sporting tradition and cultural heritage. It gives us great pleasure to return to Jerez for the first time in over 20 years and we are sure that together we will work hard to make the event a great success.”

The only time that World Superbike raced at Jerez de la Frontera was in 1990, the third year of the championship’s existence, when both races were won by that year’s champion Raymond Roche. It was also the first time a round in Spain had been added to the World Superbike championship calendar but since then the country has been a fixed presence in the production-based racing series.

“We are thrilled with the fact that the Superbike World Championship is landing at Circuito de Jerez from the next season,” Baquero added. “This shall position the track and the city itself as one of the main references of international motorbike sport. The Superbike World Championship is an extremely attractive event with a lot of potential, competitive and exciting races with which the general public should be acquainted. And from now on this is going to be our main task. The event has four classes in each meeting, very well-known riders and an important number of people involved in the organization which no doubt shall bring the city large benefits.”