World Superbike to Add Russian Round for 2012

Paolo Flammini, CEO of Infront Motor Sports and Alexander Yakhnich, CEO of Yakhnich Motorsport, have announced they have partnered to add a Russian Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship for 2011. The announcement was made during a packed press conference at the Russian National TV centre in Moscow the past weekend.

Yakhnich Motorsport also acquires the TV and Marketing rights for the Russian market. In order to bring World Superbike to Russia in 2012, negotiations are being held with a number of circuits currently in the process of applying for FIM homologation.

The event was also attended by Paolo Ciabatti, SBK General Manager, and Alexander Lunkin, President of the Russian Motorcycling Federation. In addition, it saw the presentation of the ‘Two Countries Cup’, the UEM-organized trophy for Italian and Russian riders with ‘Open Stock 600’ bikes, the two rounds of which will be held at Misano on 12 June as part of the San Marino Round of the Superbike World Championship, and at the new Canyon circuit in Kazan (Russia) on 21 August.

"Russia is one of the most important nations in the world, with a rapidly-growing economy. We think that the Superbike World Championship is the most suitable way to help develop the Russian motorcycle market, together with a plan that foresees the growth of young Russian riders on an international level in our four categories," stated Paolo Flammini.

"Thanks to the vital support of the Russian Government, specifically the Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, Russian motorcycling is getting ready to play host to the Superbike World Championship and in this way help the growth of the sport in our country in the best possible way," added Alexander Yakhnich.