Russia-Ukraine tensions scupper Superbikes

Border tensions between Ukraine and Moscow cause cancellation of this year's Moscow round in motorcycling's World Superbike Championship.

Organizers of the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) round in Moscow said on Saturday that political issues forced them to cancel the race.

"DWO and YMS Promotion have decided to cancel the WSBK Russian Round ... scheduled at Moscow Raceway on September 21st 2014," a statement on the series website said.

"The current political situation affects the capabilities of a number of key partner companies essential to run the event," it said.

The two companies said that they intend to return Moscow to the WSBK schedule next year, in line with the contract running until 2021.

The Crash.net motorsport website said that the round was cancelled because transporters for the race have to enter Russia from Ukraine which could potentially lead to difficulties, given the tension between the two countries.

WSBK is one of the two elite world motorcycle series - it features bikes that are based on regular street models, while the other, the MotoGP, is the two-wheeled version of Formula 1 and is dominated by prototypes.

The Moscow race joined the WSBK series in 2012.


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Source: AAP

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