Monza WSBK round cancelled
News confirmed by FIM and DWO
THE Italian World Superbike round, due to take place at Monza on the weekend of July 22-24 has been cancelled, with the news confirmed by the FIM and DWO.
Monza has been withdrawn because more time is required to make changes to the circuit in order for it to meet the FIM's safety standards. When the 2016 provisional calender was released in November last year, Monza was the only track on the list to be included on the condition that it met homologation standards.
Vallelunga circuit, just north of Rome, holds the substitute contract in case the race is unable to take place at Monza. The FIM has said that it will not be used as a replacement because it also requires modification to host a WSBK race, which can't be completed in time. Scheduling problems also preventing it being unable to work as a replacement circuit.
The FIM and Dorna World Superbike Organisation (DWO) haven't completely given up hope of seeing WSBK return to Monza after asking for further time to assess the options about whether it would be feasible to host the championship at the Italian venue in the near future.
A replacement track for the Italian round is currently being looked at and a venue and date is expected to be announced before May 1.
If a replacement is not found within that time the series will have an extended summer break, with the US round at Laguna Seca on 8-10 July signalling the mid-season pause before resuming in Germany at the Lausitzring on the 16-18 September.
