Sepang added to superbike calendar

Malaysia's state-of-the-art Sepang circuit has been added to the World Superbike Championship calendar for 2003.

The series has also been increased from 13 to 14 rounds, but instead of two races in Germany there will only be one - and there is no provision for a stage in South Africa.

Britain retains two races on the calendar at Silverstone on June 15 and Brands Hatch on July 27.

But one round - on August 31 - still has both the country and venue to be announced.

The series will begin in Valencia, Spain on March 2 and end at Magny-Cours, France on October 19.

The provisional 2003 World Superbike race calendar:

March 2, Valencia, Spain

March 30, Phillip Island, Australia

April 27, Sugo, Japan

May 4, Sepang, Malaysia

May 18, Monza Italy

June 1, venue to be announced, Germany

June 15, Silverstone, GB

June 22, Misano, Italy

July 13, Laguna Seca, USA

July 27, Brands Hatch, GB

August 31, venue TBA, country TBA

September 7, Assen, Holland

September 28, Imola, Italy

October 19, Magny-Cours, France.