Troy Bayliss will steer the Australian Superbike Championship in a new direction following a freshly struck partnership with Motorcycling Australia.
MA will run the series independently with six rounds next year before it moves to a summer timeslot starting next October and ending in April 2017 in a three-year deal with Troy Bayliss Events.
The new motoSBK will become the official Australian Superbike Championship under the guidance of multiple World Superbike champion Bayliss.
In revealing the plans at the Sydney Motorcycle Show, Bayliss said he was excited about taking the sport in a new direction.
“There is a big job ahead for all of us but the vision is to create a strong championship, competitive and affordable for people to race in,” Bayliss said.
“It is not just about being a promoter, the manufacturers, MA, all of our racers who are serious about their racing need to pull together to make it work.
“It won’t happen overnight but when there is one championship, with the right changes in some classes we will see good close racing and full fields which is the first step.”
The migration of the new motoSBK series to a summer timeslot allows Australian’s and international riders competing overseas in Europe, America and Japan the opportunity to come and compete in rounds of the series.
MA Board Member Peter Goddard said the development would ensure the series will enjoy growth in the next four years.
“To be able to lock away the next four years of the championship and partner up with Troy Bayliss Events highlights how far MA has come with the series in the past 12 months,” Goddard said.
The motoSBK series joins the growing stable of motorcycling properties under the management of Troy Bayliss events including the Sydney Motorcycle Show, MOTO EXPO’s Melbourne and Brisbane, the Troy Bayliss Classic and Baylisstic Scramble.
Provisional 2016 calendar
Round 1: WSBK, Phillip Island, 26-28 February
Round 2: Wakefield Park, 25-27 March
Round 3: Sydney Motorsport Park, 16-17 April
Round 4: Winton Motor Raceway, 29 April – 1 May
Round 5: Barbagallo Raceway, 3-5 June
Round 6: Morgan Park, 17-19 June