1990 FIM Diesel Jeans Superbike World Championship
For its 3rd season the Superbike World Championship found a new sponsor, a new promoter and enough potential riders that the FIM introduced results-based grading lists for each country's participants. Now splitting its competitor base with the new European Championship, the World Championship grids were smaller but stronger than ever. From the opening round it was clear who the title contenders were, but the promise of a title fight was dampened by injuries; a near-fatal practice crash at the Österreichring eliminated Ducati's new recruit Giancarlo Falappa and reigning champion Fred Merkel's campaign for a 3rd title was quashed by a hand injury picked up at the Suzuka 8 Hours. An impressive run of form from Yamaha's Fabrizio Pirovano earned him 2nd place in the standings but from mid-season Raymond Roche never looked in doubt as the champion. He was crowned at Manfeild in November despite an engine failure in the last race of the year.
| Date | Rd. | Circuit | Event Name | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-03-18 | 1 |  Jerez | World Superbike Spanish Round | GO! |
| 1990-04-16 | 2 |  Donington Park | World Superbike British Round | GO! |
| 1990-04-30 | 3 |  Hungaroring | World Superbike Hungarian Round | GO! |
| 1990-05-06 | 4 |  Hockenheim | World Superbike German Round | GO! |
| 1990-05-20 |  Interlagos | Cancelled due to circuit safety improvements not being completed in time. | ||
| 1990-06-03 | 5 |  Mosport | World Superbike Canadian Round | GO! |
| 1990-06-10 | 6 |  Brainerd | World Superbike United States Round | GO! |
| 1990-07-01 | 7 |  Österreichring | World Superbike Austrian Round | GO! |
| 1990-08-26 | 8 |  Sugo | World Superbike Japanese Round | GO! |
| 1990-09-09 | 9 |  Le Mans | World Superbike French Round | GO! |
| 1990-10-07 | 10 |  Monza | World Superbike Italian Round | GO! |
| 1990-11-04 | 11 |  Shah Alam | World Superbike Malaysian Round | GO! |
| 1990-11-11 | 12 |  Phillip Island | World Superbike Australian Round | GO! |
| 1990-11-18 | 13 |  Manfeild | World Superbike New Zealand Round | GO! |
Can You Help?
The following official data is currently missing:
1990-03-18 Jerez: Free Practice, Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up
1990-04-16 Donington Park: Free Practice - Group A, Free Practice - Group B, Warm-Up
1990-04-30 Hungaroring: Free Practice, Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up, Entry list
1990-05-06 Hockenheim: Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up
1990-06-03 Mosport: Free Practice 1, Free Practice 2, Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up
1990-06-10 Brainerd: Free Practice, Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up, Entry list
1990-07-01 Österreichring: Free Practice, Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up, Wet Warm-Up
1990-08-26 Sugo: Free Practice, Qualifying 1 - Group A, Qualifying 1 - Group B, Qualifying 2 - Group A, Qualifying 2 - Group B, Warm-Up, Entry list
1990-09-09 Le Mans: Free Practice, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up, Entry list
1990-10-07 Monza: Free Practice, Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up, Entry list
1990-11-04 Shah Alam: Free Practice 1, Free Practice 2, Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up
1990-11-11 Phillip Island: Free Practice 1, Free Practice 2, Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up, Entry list
1990-11-18 Manfeild: Free Practice, Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up
Copies of any of this information would be greatly appreciated. If you have any additional information about this season's races or riders, please contact me!