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NOYES: World Superbike at Indianapolis in 2008?
Written by: Dennis Noyes   
01/11/2007
Borrego Springs, CA
 
Ducati Xerox's Troy Bayliss (Photo: Ducati Corse) ยป More Photos

For the past two seasons the World Superbike Championship has been hunkered down in Europe, running only two of the twelve rounds overseas, and both as back-to-back season opening races at Losail in Qatar on the Persian Gulf and at Australia's magnificent (the track not the facilities) Phillip Island. News a week ago confirming that, for the second straight year, the South African round at Kyalami had been scratched from the calendar left the series once again looking at a dozen races, ten of those on the old continent.

Then, just days ago, the FIM announced that World Superbike would be returning to Donington Park for round three on April 1 of the 2007 season, meaning that three rounds of the series will be held in the land that gave us four-time world champion Carl Fogarty.

Meanwhile, in spite of many reports of a likely second United States MotoGP event at Indianapolis in 2008, talks have continued between FGSport, the World Superbike promoters, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Other conversations continue with Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama and with other US venues. The Indianapolis possibility, however, is now considered strong according to stories published this week in Italy.

This summer IMS President and C.O.O. Joie Chitwood attended the World Superbike round at Imola as the guest of Maurizio and Paolo Flammini (Chairman and C.E.O of FGSport). He said at that time, "We are very interested in bringing World Championship motorcycle racing to Indianapolis. In fact, the first race ever staged at Indy was a motorcycle race. I attended the United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca and now the World Superbike Race here in Imola, and I am impressed by the enthusiasm of the
large crowds and the professional organization of these events."

When I asked which of the two series he preferred, he stated no preference and said that talks were going on both with Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna C.E.O.) and with Maurizio and Paolo Flammini, but then he added, "One thing we very much like about World Superbike is the openness of the paddock and the accessibility to the fans of riders and teams in World Superbike. Our fans at Indianapolis are accustomed to seeing the competitors up close and this is something that is important to us."

Since then there have been several stories in the American and European press about a possible MotoGP round at Indianapolis in 2008, but this week the Italian press reported that progress had been made between FGSport and IMS regarding a WSBK race in 2008.

Reached by telephone today, Chitwood said, "We are still talking to both groups, World Superbike and MotoGP, and we are responding now to recommendations made by FIM circuit inspector Claude Danis after his most recent visit. There are a number of changes we must make in order to receive FIM homologation. Among them are changes we have to make to a creek that runs through the property. Anything of this nature requires government approval. We are looking at 2008 as a possibility for a world championship motorcycle event and we are looking at many factors including the size of the grids, the participation by American riders, and the level of cooperation by the rights holders. From now until the running of the Indianapolis 500 we will be very heavily concentrating on the event that makes us who we are, but after that I believe I may be attending additional world motorcycle racing events."
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