WorldSBK to race in China for first time in 2027

(Jairo Diaz)

The Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) will race in China for the first time next year after organisers included the country in the 2027 calendar.

The Shanghai International Circuit will host the season finale, marking WorldSBK’s first visit to Asia since 2023, when Mandalika staged the Indonesian round for the third consecutive season.

 

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China’s inclusion comes as its motorcycle manufacturers expand their presence in the championship’s supporting classes.

QJMOTOR, ZXMOTO and Kove are competing across WorldSSP and WorldSPB this season, with Chinese brands already enjoying success in the paddock.

Kove became the first Chinese manufacturer to win the WorldSSP300 riders’ championship when Spain’s Benat Fernandez secured the title in his rookie season in 2025.

ZXMOTO followed with a successful debut in WorldSSP this year, as France’s Valentin Debise claimed multiple victories after giving the Chinese manufacturer their first wins with a double at Portimao in March.

The Chinese round will give local fans the chance to watch WorldSBK, which features racing versions of commercially available motorcycles, on home soil.

The championship has previously held rounds in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and Qatar, but has never raced in China since its inaugural season in 1988.

The addition will broaden WorldSBK’s reach beyond a calendar currently dominated by European venues.

Phillip Island in Australia is the only round outside Europe on the 2026 schedule.

Fans can watch WorldSBK live on SPOTV NOW.