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(+) / Print 31 March 2018 / Text Size (-)

Marquez, Rossi and Vinales, head-to-head with Rea, Davies and Camier

Dorna has this morning released details of its bold plan to combine MotoGP and WorldSBK into one championship to be known as Super MotoGP.

A press release issued by Dorna Sports this morning outlined details of how the two series will be merged and revealed the new-look championship will commence from 2019.

“We believe the best way forward for the sport is to combine our two motorcycle word championships into one mega-series to be called Super MotoGP,” a Dorna spokesperson said. “The factory-backed WorldSBK teams will be invited to join the MotoGP grid, from 2019 onwards.”

“The WSBK bikes have already shown they can lap at a competitive pace, so only minimal technical allowances will be required to bring them up to MotoGP speeds. We will not be slowing the MotoGP machines; they will remain our benchmark.”

Dorna also confirmed 2018 will be the swansong year the 600cc Supersport series, but not the riders.

“Supersport will no longer exist from 2019, but the top 10 riders from the 2018 championship will be offered a contract to race the Energica Ego electric bikes in the new Moto-e series. This is going to inject extra excitement into the remainder of the 2018 series as everyone fights for a top-ten position.”

Combining the two series will see Kawasaki return to MotoGP as a full factory team for the first time since 2008, while the Yamaha, Honda and Ducati WorlsSBK factory teams will be run separately to the Factory MotoGP teams. Sharing of technical information has not been ruled out, neither has the sharing of riders, which could see underperforming MotoGP riders moved to WorldSBK spec machines, vacating a MotoGP seat for their WSBK counterpart.

More details in the next issue of AMCN.