South Australia has secured another major motorsport event, with the FIM Superbike World Championship set to move from Victoria to The Bend under a new multi-year agreement.
The WorldSBK Australian round will be staged at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at The Bend from 2028, adding to a package that already includes the return of the MotoGP Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix to Adelaide’s street circuit from 2027.
The move marks a change in the championship’s Australian footprint, with Victoria having hosted the event for many years at Phillip Island. South Australian officials say the new arrangement is expected to attract thousands of interstate and international visitors, providing a boost for tourism and regional businesses.
WorldSBK is one of the two leading world championship motorcycle racing categories sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), alongside MotoGP. Unlike MotoGP’s purpose-built prototype machines, WorldSBK features highly modified production motorcycles from manufacturers including Ducati, Yamaha, Honda, BMW and Kawasaki.
The championship races at venues across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Oceania and the Americas, drawing audiences through both live attendance and global broadcast coverage.
The Bend, located near Tailem Bend, has become a key motorsport venue since opening in 2018. The facility includes multiple circuit layouts, accommodation and corporate facilities designed to support international events.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said securing WorldSBK strengthened South Australia’s growing motorsport calendar and would bring economic and tourism benefits to the state, particularly regional areas.
He said the addition of WorldSBK alongside MotoGP, the Adelaide 500 and the AirTouch 500 Enduro reflected the government’s ambition to position South Australia as a leading destination for motorsport events.
Shell V-Power Motorsport Park Managing Director Dr Sam Shahin described the agreement as a landmark moment for both the venue and the state. He said the championship would bring leading manufacturers, teams and riders to South Australia while providing international exposure for the circuit.
WorldSBK Sporting Director Gregorio Lavilla welcomed the move, describing Australia as an important market for the championship and its stakeholders. He said The Bend’s facilities and commitment to motorsport made it a strong fit for the series’ future in the country.
While organisers have highlighted the economic opportunities linked to the event, further details on attendance forecasts, government investment and the full terms of the agreement have yet to be released.
Additional information, including ticketing arrangements for the inaugural race at The Bend in February 2028, is expected in the coming months.
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