Aussie Superbikes to turn back time?

The 2015 Australian Superbike Championship could be reverting to a management structure that was last utilised in 2003, which would see national governing body Motorcycling Australia take on a co-ordination role alongside individual clubs and/or promoters.

The latest set of minutes from the MA Board – May 2014 – discusses that scenario, and says the matter was canvassed during meetings at Phillip Island alongside the opening round of the 2014 Superbike World Championship in late February.

That was before IEG, the previous promoter, officially exited the championship, but now that’s happened the pressing issue of lifting the one-time road racing showpiece off the canvas – only two rounds will be held in 2014 -- has reached a critical juncture.

According to former MA CEO David White, who sat in on his last Board meeting in May, he is not aware of “anybody with the appetite to take on the promotion of the championship as a whole” in 2015 and beyond.

That situation has rekindled the spectre of MA taking over as the promoter, which occurred for the last time in 2003 before the governing body signed a landmark agreement with Formula Xtreme Promotions to relinquish the reins. That collaboration lasted until IEG took over in 2010 -- a bumpy road from the outset that culminated with the company officially departing the scene in early May. However, the writing appeared to be on the wall weeks earlier based on the Phillip Island meetings.

Here’s an extract of the May 2014 MA Board minutes: “There were meetings at  Phillip Island…discussing the  possibility of going back to the  previous arrangement whereby MA co-ordinated the championship with individual  clubs/promoters conducting  each round.

“At the time, particularly with the Shell (Oils) sponsorship, this worked quite well. The CEO is not aware of anybody with the appetite to  take on the promotion of the  championship as a whole.

“Informal discussion has provided a very positive response from a club in WA and also MSA (Motorcycling South Australia) has given an  indication of interest as has MQ (Motorcycling Queensland). There needs to be some direction from the Board as to how this is to proceed.”

The 2014 Australian Superbike Championship will culminate with round two at Phillip Island on July 19-20 – promoted by MA – although the official website (www.asbk.com.au) contradicts itself by still listing Hidden Valley in Darwin as round two on June 21-22. That round was cancelled weeks ago…