Imola returns to WSB calendar
Added on Thursday, December 4th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
WSB Calendar confirmed.
Imola will return to the World Superbikes schedule for 2009 as the FIM confirmed the WSB and WSS schedules for the coming season.
The Italian circuit will replace Vallelunga on the calendar after an extensive refurbishment over the last year, with an entirely new pit complex and a revised layout that now sees an interrupted run between Rivazza and the Traguardo first corner being the stand-out changes.
The circuit is fondly remembered by WSB fans having hosted a number of memorable title showdowns before it was removed from the calendar in 2006. Imola is also the venue where Formula One drivers Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were tragically killed in 1994.
There are no further changes from the provisional calendar released back in October, meaning that Brands Hatch will not host a World Superbikes event in 2009 following disagreements between WSB promoter FG Sport and Brands owner Motorsport Vision.
Instead, Donington Park will now host the British round of the championship on June 28 having previously been the home of the European round.
Kyalami is the other new circuit to appear on the calendar, with the championship heading to South Africa in May. Other races of note are the season opener at Phillip Island on March 1st, round two which will take place under floodlights in Qatar and the season finale at Portimão on October 25.
2009 WSBK/WSS calendar
March :1 Australia, Phillip Island
March 14: Qatar, Doha/Losail*
April 5: Spain, Valencia
April 26: Netherlands, Assen
May 10: Italy, Monza
May 17: South Africa, Kyalami
May 31: United States, Salt Lake City
June 21: San Marino, Misano
June 28: Great-Britain, Donington Park
July 26: Czech Republic, Brno
September 6: Germany, Nürburgring
September 27: Italy, Imola
October 4: France, Magny-Cours
October 25: Portugal, Portimão
