Sbk, updated regulations: the main changes
Big news in Superbike
The Superbike Commission, composed of Messrs. Gregorio Lavilla (Dorna, WorldSBK Executive Director), Franck Vayssié (FIM Commission of Circuit Racing Director), Biense Bierma (MSMA General Secretary), coordinated by Paul Duparc (FIM Commission of Circuit Racing Manager – SBK Commission secretary), with the presence of Jorge Viegas (FIM President), Ludovic Reignier (FIM WorldSBK Technical Director), Roland Berger (FIM CTI Director) and Scott Smart (FIM WorldSBK Technical Director), made the following decisions in Portimao, October 6-8.
Podium Ceremony
In harmony with other FIM World Championships, it was approved that “when the podium is located in or above the pit lane, the pit lane cannot be opened during the podium ceremony.” This is to avoid any safety issues in the pit lane.
Allocation of wildcards
When presenting a wildcard candidate to the SBK Commission, the National Federations must ensure and validate that the quality of the rider, his staff, his equipment and the presentation of his team are compatible with the level of the FIM Superbike World Championship.
Technical Regulations
Creation of a Super Concession concept.
A revised concession point system has been adopted that will award concession points to a greater number of competitors in order to capture a better balance of the relative performance of the bikes.
Concession points will be totaled every three events and then qualified builders will move to a “Performance Calculator” (full details in the regulations). The results may allow manufacturers to upgrade existing concessions or move to Superconcessions.
Superconcessions for 2022 are chassis-based. By allowing a greater range of adjustments, manufacturers will be able to optimize their machines for the intense level of competition for which World Superbike is famous.
Since the first SBK Commission meeting on Thursday, October 6, this Super Concessions concept has been used, primarily to test the concept for the end of the 2022 season and to prepare for the 2023 season.
Limiting the price of Sport Production machines.
Due to the global economic situation and recorded inflation, the FIM wanted to consider the cost development of production machines for 2023. A general proposal for a maximum percentage increase in the maximum retail price of homologated production models. The exact amounts and percentages will be published at a later stage.
Sustainable fuel for all WorldSBK classes.
The SBK Commission has decided to introduce sustainable fuel for all WorldSBK classes starting with the 2024 season, with a minimum sustainable fuel content of 40 percent. The E40 fuel will have to conform to the specifications adopted for MotoGP.
