Next year’s race schedule for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is shaping up to be the best season ever for motorcycle race fans with organizers announcing today that the eni FIM Superbike World Championship will be joining the MotoGP World Championship on the 2013 calendar. World Superbike will take place September 27-29, 2013 and is the series’ only U.S. appearance.

“We are thrilled to have World Superbike commit to a three-year race schedule at Mazda Raceway and the Monterey Peninsula,” says Gill Campbell, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca CEO/general manager. “We have a strong history together and their return solidifies our position as THE premier circuit in the U.S. for motorcycle racing.”

World Superbike competes in 12 countries with 14 races, fielding a typical grid of two dozen skilled international riders on six competitive manufacturer brands. Each round has two races and the results of each race are combined to determine two annual World Championships, one for riders and one for manufacturers.

“We are absolutely delighted to be returning to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the U.S. round for the first time since 2004,” said Paolo Flammini, CEO of Infront Motor Sports. “Over the period in which we were last there, we witnessed an extraordinary growth in interest and in overall attendance and we are sure that this event will once again become one of the most prestigious on the calendar, with six manufacturers competing. The return of Mazda Raceway to the Superbike World Championship calendar will definitely be a boost to the championship’s growth in the U.S. market as California has a special tradition and offers significant opportunities for the motorcycle industry, sponsors and media.”

With only two more races on the calendar, the battle for the championship is virtually down to three riders, Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team), Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team). However, Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) and reigning World Superbike Champion Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) still mathematically have a chance at the title.

In the Manufacturers competition Aprilia is on top of the standings with BMW just 7.5 points behind, followed by Ducati at minus 42.5 and Kawasaki at minus 62.

Tickets for World Superbike at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will go on sale in December and will be available online at www.MazdaRaceway.com or by calling the ticket office at 800.327.7322.