1996 FIM Superbike European Championship

Rebranded as the Euro Open Championship for 1996 and under new management from Spanish promoter RPM Exclusivas, the European Superbike attracted a strong contingent of Spanish and Portuguese competitors who no longer had healthy Superbike championships in their home countries. Brothers and teammates Idalio and Eustáquio Gavira looked strong early on, though the latter lost significant points through crashes, and Ducati rider David Vázquez pressured Idalio throughout the year. A crash at Magny-Cours hurt Vázquez's chances but with Gavira carrying an injury into the final round he was still in contention, until a crash in warm-up and mechanical failure in the race handed Gavira the championship.

DateRd.CircuitEvent NameResults
1996-02-241Flag of Spain JerezEuro Open '96 Circuito de JerezGO!
1996-03-102Flag of Spain CartagenaEuro Open '96 Circuito de CartagenaGO!
1996-05-053Flag of Spain AlbaceteEuro Open '96 Circuito de AlbaceteGO!
1996-06-164Flag of Portugal BragaEuro Open '96 Circuito Vasco SameiroGO!
1996-07-285Flag of Italy MisanoEuro Open '96 Circuito Internazionale Santa MonicaGO!
1996-08-256Flag of Czech Republic MostEuro Open '96 Autodrom MostGO!
1996-10-137Flag of France Magny-CoursEuro Open '96 Circuit Nevers Magny-CoursGO!
1996-10-278Flag of Spain Catalunya (Short)Euro Open '96 Circuit de CatalunyaGO!

Can You Help?

The following official data is currently missing:

1996-02-24 Jerez: Warm-Up, Entry list

1996-03-10 Cartagena: Free Practice 1, Free Practice 2, Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up, Entry list

1996-05-05 Albacete: Warm-Up, Entry list

1996-06-16 Braga: Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up, Entry list

1996-07-28 Misano: All sessions, Entry list

1996-08-25 Most: All sessions

1996-10-13 Magny-Cours: Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Warm-Up, Entry list

1996-10-27 Catalunya (Short): All sessions, Entry list

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!