The Sentul International Circuit will host a SBK race from the 2013 season, with organisers seeking to either bundle it with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix or place it as the final round of the campaign. Infront has stated that the Indonesian Government will promote the event through the creation of a task force that will sustain the economic, logistical, promotion and administrative requirements of the organiser.
The addition of Indonesia to the SBK calendar comes as Infront prepares to roll out ambitious new initiatives to grow the series as it celebrates its 25th anniversary this season. The 2012 SBK campaign, which begins in Phillip Island, Australia on February 26, will herald the unveiling of a complete brand overhaul for the series. Meanwhile, SBK will stage its inaugural race in Russia when Moscow hosts a round of the championship in August.
Maurizio Flammini, president of Infront Motor Sports, said: “After Russia, where Superbike has now arrived before any other world motorsport championship, thanks to more than two years of intense work in the Asian area, we have now been able to insert Indonesia, which has in the past already played host to a race of considerable success and appeal. Indonesia today is a country with the largest growth factors: GDP is more than US$1 trillion, with a 2011 growth of more than 6%, and the sale of bikes widely exceeds seven million units per year. The Superbike race will therefore be a great opportunity for the motorcycle manufacturers present in our championship. We are also negotiating with the Buddh International Circuit in India, where the Formula One race was recently held, in order to complete a presence in Asia that in this case will be absolutely extraordinary.”
Infront has also added that SBK, along with its sponsors, teams and investors, will benefit from the introduction of the Indonesian Grand Prix. Flammini, as president of FEDERLAZIO and PMItalia – organisations that represent more than 30,000 Italian firms – has agreed a partnership with the Indonesian Government to set up close collaboration between the companies of the two continents. Infront believes this will lead to the creation of B2B opportunities.
