In 2012, the Superbike World Championship will contest its finale at the “Circuit de Nevers†in Magny-Cours for the seventh time in its history. The circuit is located in the French département of Nièvre, about 250 kilometres south of Paris. The racetrack was built in 1961 and was the subject of extensive renovations and extensions in 1988. The circuit was officially reopened as the “Circuit de Nevers†in 1989 before another big renovation followed in autumn of 2002. As well as the GP circuit, the facility also incorporates a shorter circuit, a kart track, an industrial park, a museum and a golf course. The Superbike World Championship made its debut in Magny-Cours in 1991 and has visited the circuit every year since 2003.
The combination of fast chicanes and tight hairpins give the circuit a unique stopgo character. The riders must brake from high speeds into the slowest corners they experience all season. Stability, top speed, steering and braking response and a smooth connection are important factors in Magny-Cours. This is best seen in the “Adelaide†hairpin at the end of a long straight, for which the riders must brake from 280 km/h to under 50 km/h. It is not easy to keep the front wheel on the ground when accelerating out of this hairpin. Another factor that must be taken into consideration when setting the bike up is the weather. It can be windy, cold and wet in the French province in autumn. The smooth track surface soon becomes slippery when the rain arrives.
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Technopôle
F-58470 Magny Cours
Tel: +33 (386) 218055
christelle.vrai@circuitmagnycours.com