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EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES |
World Superbike Championship2nd November 2008The World Superbike Championship (also known as the SBK) is recognised worldwide for the extreme competitiveness of every race. The bikes that are used on the track are built on the basis of commercially available models rather than from prototypes, which makes the championship a thrilling competition for bike enthusiasts. The championship was launched in 1988 and there are rounds in different parts of the world. Each round consists of two races and the results of the races are combined to decide two world championships, the riders' and the manufacturers'. Europe is the traditional centre of the SBK, but there are also rounds in countries such as Qatar and Australia. In 2008, the championship returns to the USA and to Indonesia and will be held for the first time in the far south of Portugal when the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve will be inaugurated. "Mad Max" amongst the starsAmong the star motorcyclists will be the Italian Max Biaggi ("Mad Max"), the top rider who swapped Moto GP for the adrenaline of the SBK, as did Brazilian Alex Barros. Following the departure of British champion James Toseland, the remaining 28 riders include the Spaniards Carlos Checa and Ruben Xaus, the Japanese Noriyuki Haga, the Australian Troys Bayliss and the Turkish Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu. The championship is regulated by the FIM, the International Motorcycling Federation, and it is managed and promoted by FGSport.
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