Image: Russell Colvin.

A new-look Mi-Bike 2020 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) calendar has been released by Motorcycling Australia (MA), the series set to resume from late July.

Phillip Island, which hosted round one in Victoria earlier this year prior to the coronavirus pandemic halting sport globally, will re-open the season on 25-26 July in a two-day event.

From there, the reduced six-round series will travel to Winton, Victoria, on 11-13 September, followed by Wakefield Park in New South Wales between 16-18 October.

Round five remains to be confirmed, understood to potentially be Morgan Park in Queensland, which is currently absent from the updated schedule. The finale will take place at The Bend, South Australia, from 20-22 November as part of the annual International Motofest and now to include all categories.

“It’s been huge challenge for the ASBK Management Team to rebuild the calendar with different restrictions in each state and the large amount of new requirements to stage a major event like an ASBK round,” explained MA CEO Peter Doyle.

“However, we have done our very best to get back up and running to finish the season with as many rounds as possible. We are very pleased to get the championship back into action in July and to see the riders back on track.”

The Phillip Island event will be hosted without spectators due to current COVID-19 regulations, but will be televised and available to view through Livestream. A limitation on personnel attending the second round will also be required.

“We are thrilled to be finally heading back to the track and can’t wait to get going,” commented Simon Maas, ASBK sporting director. We choose to restart at Phillip Island because the riders of ASBK know the track well, as it was the last circuit we visited, so they can get up to pace quickly with the reduced schedule.

“In addition, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is a world-class track – home to MotoGP and WorldSBK – and it makes the implementation of the new COVID-safe protocols more manageable. Like all major sporting codes, ASBK and MA have developed a comprehensive ‘ASBK COVID-Safe Championship Plan’ based on our roadmap back to ASBK.

“We extend our thanks and acknowledgement to the Victorian Government – Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions who are supporting Creative, Tourism, Sport and Major Events in Victoria and have assisted in our ASBK COVID-Safe Championship Plan, which has made our return to the track possible.”

2020 ASBK championship calendar (revised):
Rd1 – 27 February-1 March – Phillip Island, VIC
Rd2 – 25-26 July – Phillip Island, VIC
Rd3 – 11-13 September – Winton, VIC
Rd4 – 16-18 October – Wakefield Park, NSW
Rd5 – TBC
Rd6 – 20-22 November – The Bend, SA