WorldSBK calendar extended to 13 rounds after Mandalika given go-ahead

The 2021 World Superbike championship will not end after round 12 in Argentina after Mandalika, Indonesia, has been given the all-clear. 

The newly built Mandalika International Street Circuit will host the final round a week later than originally planned (November 19-21) in order to avoid clashing with the MotoGP finale in Valencia (November 12-14). 

For much of this year the event had been classed as TBC (to be confirmed) due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. 

A surge of new cases in Indonesia last month put the event under severe threat, while circuit construction being finished in time also provided fresh doubts.

However, WorldSBK officials have since confirmed that everything will go ahead as planned. 

It’s an event that could decide one of the most competitive title fights in recent memory, as Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea are currently separated by just one point ahead of race one in Jerez.  

WorldSBK will be the first championship to race around the new Mandalika circuit, before MotoGP comes to town in 2022. 

A pre-season test has been provisionally added for February 11-13, before returning for the first grand prix race weekend in March. 

This won’t be the first time that WorldSBK heads to Indonesia as it previously hosted the championship from 1994 to 1997.

The remaining rounds this year include this weekend’s ongoing Jerez (round 10), Portimao, San Juan and Mandalika.