Bosses at Australia’s Phillip Island circuit have announced the 2021 round has already been postponed before the official calendar has been announced.

The track usually hosts the opening round in late February but due to the ongoing Covid19 pandemic, the event will now take place later in the year.

“We have been closely monitoring the situation in Australia and globally, and working with our stakeholders,” said PI general manager David Bennett.

“We’ve delayed our decision as late as possible, but unfortunately with the uncertainty that exists in the world today, we are going to have to postpone our World Superbike round.

“The world superbike show will be back. I know this means a longer wait for fans, but the world’s leading production riders and their bikes will return to the island for more spectacular racing and the wait, as always, will be worth it.”

MotoGP have pencilled a 24 October race weekend at the track which was the only circuit on the 2020 calendar to host a ‘normal’ WorldSBK event.