The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s Executive Director Gregorio Lavilla got a chance to speak on the recent announcement of the provisional 2027 WorldSBK calendar. The new schedule will bring WorldSBK to China for the first time ever for a flyaway finale at the Shanghai International Circuit, and a return to the famed Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia earlier in the season for Round 3.
“WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR CALENDAR, AND ALL THE PIECES WERE COMING TOGETHER”
Since Kove competed for the first time in the WorldSBK paddock back in 2023, Chinese manufacturers have steadily grown their presence in the sport with QJMOTOR making the nation’s debut in WorldSSP in the subsequent 2024 season. The trend shows no signs of slowing as Benat Fernandez (Kove Racing Team 109) took the final WorldSSP300 Riders’ Championship in 2025, and this season ZXMOTO is propelling Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) to a title challenge, with the #53 currently second in the standings, albeit with 86 points between the French rider and Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) ahead of Estoril. In 2027, CFMOTO will be the exclusive bike supplier for WorldWCR, adding another Chinese presence in the paddock.
On the agreement with the Chinese circuit, Lavilla said: “It’s a big change. It’s something that has been growing here through the last years, having Chinese manufacturers in the Championship, Kove winning the last WorldSSP300 Championship, the eruption of ZXMOTO. We are always looking to expand our calendar, and all the pieces were coming together. When I saw the opportunity, I felt like it was something that deserved my full attention. I think for WorldSBK and for motorsport in general, being able to go to China is something really big. It’s a very powerful economy, so it’s going to be something that will bring a lot of positives into the Championship.”
“IT’S BEEN A GREAT SURPRISE… WE STARTED LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES, AND VALENCIA CAME UP”
China isn’t the only change on the 2027 WorldSBK calendar. For the first time since 2010, the Championship will be returning to the beloved Circuit Ricardo Tormo. The circuit has been a longtime fixture on the MotoGP schedule, and WorldSBK will change one Spanish venue for another as the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, Andalucia will undergo renovations, swapping out racing in southern Spain’s Andalucia region for the coastal Mediterranean province of Valencia.
On the Spanish swap, Lavilla stated: “It’s been a great surprise; we were very happy to race in Jerez, but they will do some work on the paddock, and it was not possible to continue racing there. We started looking for alternatives, and Valencia came up which, historically, is a track we’ve raced at, and we believe will have a nice impact into the region, and for the fans because it’s very easy for them to be. It’s another positive note and I’m looking forward to it.”
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