Enna-Pergusa: Superbike spectacle in the shadow of Mount Etna and the Cosa Nostra

The Superbike World Championship has been heavily influenced by Italy. Not only do many teams and riders hail from the country on the Adriatic, but the series was also organised by Infront for many years. Traditional manufacturers such as Aprilia, Bimota and Ducati have been or are currently involved, whilst well-known equipment suppliers such as Pirelli and Brembo are an integral part of the paddock.

What’s more, iconic circuits such as Monza, Imola and Misano have hosted true Superbike festivals, attracting huge crowds. Other circuits that have hosted this production-based World Championship include Mugello (1991 to 1994), Vallelunga (2007/2008) and Cremona (since 2024). However, the most extraordinary venue in Italy was Enna-Pergusa.

Enna is a small town with a population of around 27,000, centrally located in Sicily at an altitude of 970 metres; to the south lies Lago di Pergusa, around which a circuit was built in 1961 – the Autódromo di Pergusa. It is certainly a thoroughly idyllic setting for motor racing. The Superbike World Championship moved to Sicily in 1989, even though circuits such as Monza and Imola already existed at that time.

Since the 1980s, various governments had been planning to build a bridge to link Sicily with the Italian mainland. However, the project never progressed beyond the planning stage. To this day, the Superbike teams’ lorries have had to cross over by ferry.

The production-based World Championship was the only major motorcycling series to come to Enna-Pergusa. Today’s riders would refuse to start any race there, as the circuit is too fast, has insufficient run-off areas and is generally too unsafe. Otherwise, motor racing series ventured onto the circuit, which resembled an oval more than anything else.

Das Streckenlayout von Enna-Pergusa

Foto: autodromopergusa.gov.it

Spread over 4,950 metres are ten right-hand and six left-hand bends, with the mostly long, sweeping bends able to be taken at full throttle. Even 30 years ago, the average speed was almost 170 km/h. This puts Enna-Pergusa in the same league as the high-speed circuit at Imola. In 2019, Race 1 winner Chaz Davies (Ducati) averaged 167 km/h there.

In 1989, the victories were shared between Stéphane Mertens (Honda) and Raymond Roche (Ducati). After its debut, the Superbike World Championship never returned to Enna-Pergusa.