WorldSBK Could Return to Sepang in 2027 

Sepang could welcome back WorldSBK in 2027 after more than a decade away, following the circuit’s return to hosting Formula 1 in 2026.

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The FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) could be set for a long-awaited return to Sepang International Circuit in 2027, according to reports from Italian publication Motosprint, potentially ending an absence that stretches back more than a decade.

If the plans materialise, it would mark WorldSBK’s first race in Malaysia since 2016, when the championship last visited Sepang. That race remains memorable as it delivered Nicky Hayden’s only WorldSBK victory, which also stands as Honda’s most recent win in the production-based championship. Completing the podium that weekend were Davide Giugliano with Ducati in second place and Jonathan Rea from Kawasaki Racing Team in third.

While Sepang has remained a permanent fixture on the MotoGP calendar since 1999, apart from the COVID-19 disrupted seasons in 2020 and 2021, WorldSBK has gradually shifted away from Southeast Asia in recent years.

The championship’s most recent visit to the region came at Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia. However, the round was dropped after the 2023 season following reported financial losses.

At present, MotoGP remains the only FIM world championship to visit Sepang annually, while the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) is the circuit’s sole major international motorcycle racing series. On the domestic front, Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) and Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) continue to headline the local racing calendar. 

Since 2024, the WorldSBK calendar has become heavily centred around Europe, with Phillip Island in Australia serving as the only non-European round. From 2028 onwards, The Bend Motorsport Park is expected to replace Phillip Island as the championship’s Australian venue.

According to Motosprint, discussions surrounding Sepang’s return are linked to WorldSBK’s efforts to reduce operating costs by introducing a single fuel supplier, with fuel reportedly targeted to cost less than €10 per litre.

The report also suggests Malaysian energy company Petronas could become the championship’s official fuel supplier, a move that would naturally strengthen the possibility of WorldSBK returning to Sepang. Petronas has also held the naming rights to the Petronas Sepang International Circuit since signing a three-year agreement in 2023.

A return to Malaysia would restore WorldSBK’s presence in one of Asia’s most passionate motorcycle racing markets while helping the championship regain a more balanced global calendar after several Europe-focused seasons.

Interestingly, the reported discussions come shortly after Formula 1 confirmed that the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix will be relocated to Sepang International Circuit due to ongoing issues affecting the Bahrain International Circuit. The race is scheduled to take place from October 2-4, 2026. If both Formula 1 and WorldSBK race at Sepang within a short period of each other, it would further reinforce the circuit’s reputation as one of the region’s premier motorsport venues.

For now, neither WorldSBK nor Sepang International Circuit has officially confirmed the return. However, if negotiations progress as reported, Malaysian fans could once again witness production-based superbike racing at Sepang for the first time since Hayden’s memorable victory in 2016.