NORTHERN Ireland’s Eugene Laverty is fearful next season could be the final big year for the World Superbike Championship.
The factory Aprilia rider is worried the series may be demoted to a clear secondary role with its leading riders switching to MotoGP after both championship were recently brought under the same umbrella, with Dorna and World Superbike promoters Infront Sports and Media merging their interests.
Laverty’s Aprilia team-mate, Max Biaggi, was crowned World Superbike champion last month following a thrilling three-way battle for the title with BMW’s Marco Melandri and Kawasaki star Tom Sykes in a stunning crescendo Laverty rates as ‘incredible’.
However, the Toomebridge man feels this season may be the final swansong for World Superbikes following the decision by Dorna and Infront to operate under the same banner.
“Half a point between Max and Tom [Sykes] after nine months of racing is incredible,” Laverty said.
“Infront did a great job with the championship this season and it’ll go down as one of the most exciting years in the history of World Superbike.
“Nine different race winners on five different makes of machinery is a stat unrivalled by any other championship around.
“Looking ahead to next season I think it’s going to be another great year for the championship, however that may not last much further than 2013 following the recent announcement of the running of the championship,” he added on his latest official blog.
“Next year is an extremely important one for both WSBK and MotoGP riders as 2014 could see the strongest riders placed in the top class and the rest left behind.
“Never has there been a more important time to shine.”
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