2011 FIM Superbike World Championship to kick-off this weekend

The 2011 FIM Superbike World Championship (SBK), the 24th season in the history of the competition, gets underway this weekend at the spectacular Phillip Island circuit in Australia. The first of thirteen rounds for the FIM Superbike World Championship takes place between 25 and 27 February, along with one of its supporting series, - the FIM Supersport World Championship. Together the two events will launch the 2011 motorbike racing season into action with the promise of nail biting excitement right from the outset.

As the world’s leading production-based motorcycle event, the Superbike World Championship promises high speed exhilaration and excitement across the globe and will feature all industry-leading manufacturers – Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha. The 2011 season visits ten countries, including its highlight events in Monza (Italy), Donington Park (Europe) and the final round in Portimao (Portugal). In 2010, every race weekend received an average of 80,000 spectators onsite, adding up to 1 million per season.

With the start of the 2011 season, all eyes will be on reigning champion Max Biaggi (ITA) riding for Aprilia Alitalia. Leon Haslam (GBR), Biaggi’s main rival last year, has changed team and manufacturer riding alongside seven times Phillip Island winner Troy Corser (AUS) for the German BMW Motorrad Motorsport team. Superbike fans are also eagerly awaiting the debut of Marco Melandri (ITA), MotoGP runner-up (2005), riding for the Yamaha World Superbike Team. Melandri is one of five Italian riders participating in the Championship, which makes Italy, along with the UK (also with five riders) the most highly represented country. This year fans can not only look forward to the usual opposition between the teams but a battle amongst the riders – fellow countrymen competing against one another.

However, the 2011 season will not only see the top stars on the circuits. With the newly created European Junior Cup, Infront Motor Sport also gets young, talented riders involved that compete on identical race-prepared Kawasaki Ninja 250R motorcycles. Open to 14 to 17 year old racers from around the world, the European Junior Cup isconducted at six racing circuits in the SBK calendar, starting in Assen (Netherlands, 15- 17 April 2011) and giving the youngsters the unique opportunity to display their talent in front of thousands of racing fans onsite.