WSBK: controversial changes ahead
All-new grid format and technical updates for 2017 Superbike World ChampionshipThe World Superbike Championship has announced controversial changes to the way Race Two’s grid will be determined, effective from the 2017 season opener in Australia.
The Superbike Commission nutted out the changes in a meeting in Spain earlier this month, which also included some minor amendments to the technical regulations.
From next year, Saturday’s Race One results will determine Race Two’s starting grid, but not in the way you might think. Instead of using the conventional progressive grid method, where riders start the second race in the order they finish the first, the Superbike Commission has announced a controversial shake-up to the method, presumably as a way to increase both the spectacle of the series and, subsequently, the audience.
The podium finishers from the opening race will be moved back to the third row of the grid and their positions will be reversed to see Race One’s winner having to start from ninth on the grid. The riders who finished fourth, fifth and sixth will be promoted to the front row in the same order, while riders who finished seventh, eighth and ninth will leapfrog the third row and start from the second row of the grid in fourth, fifth and sixth place. Riders who finished Race One lower than 10th place will be unaffected by the changes and start where they originally qualified during Superpole.
Technical changes to the Superbike category will mean airbag sensors will be allowed to be changed, and parts of the variable intake tract system may now also be replaced. The Supersport category will now employ the flag-to-flag strategy for wet weather races, while rules around front axles and fender mounts have been changed to allow for faster and safer wheel changes.
Other changes include the banning of scooters for riders to familiarise themselves with the circuit – it’s walking and cycling only from now on – and wildcard entries will be expanded to two entries in each event, with the deadline of the application extended out to 90 days for overseas events.
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