WSBK preparing for shake-up
A new technical framework is in the pipeline for the Superbike World Championship, starting in 2014 and applied progressively over three yearsThe Superbike World Championship is set for a major revamp, as the move towards motorcycles more closely aligned to their production-based donors gathers steam.
The change to the technical framework isn’t a surprise, as the private equity group (Bridgepoint) that is a majority shareholder in MotoGP organiser Dorna Sports (since 2006) and which also owns World Superbike promoter Infront Sports & Media (since September, 2011) announced in October, 2012 that both championships will be consolidated under one umbrella organisation. And the message was clear: MotoGP would remain a prototype championship, and WSBK for production-based motorcycles.
The FIM has released a statement announcing a new framework for the watered-down WSBK technical rules, which will be applied progressively over three stages, starting in 2014.
A draft of the technical regulations will be published soon, but we do have some basic facts:
- The price of the motorcycle and its components will be much lower than today’s cost;
- A maximum number of engines for use by a rider during the complete season will be introduced;
- Items considered for cost limitation are suspension components, brakes and gearbox ratios; and
- The constructors present in the FIM Superbike World Championship agreed to have a minimum number of motorcycles with the same state of tuning, available for sale or through lease.
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