World SBK set for F1-style qualifying
Eurosport - Sat, 20 Sep 19:15:00 2008
Riders in next season's World Superbike Championship will take part in a Formula One-style qualifying shoot-out after the series organisers agreed a change to the rules.
Currently the top 16 riders from qualifying get one lap each in the Superpole session to determine the line-up on the first four rows of the start grid.
But from next season the top 20 from qualifying will go into the first shoot-out which will see the slowest four riders drop out.
From there another timed session will see the 16 reduced to eight. The final session will then take place with the fastest rider taking pole position.
The next three quickest will complete the front row with riders four to eight making up row two.
Rows three and four will come from the riders placed nine to 16 in the second timed session.
The rule changes follow a meeting of the Superbike Commission, comprised of representatives of WSB rights holders FGSport, race teams and the sport's governing body FIM.
The commission also ruled that from next season riders will be allowed to change machines during the race if they need to use wet weather tyres if it starts to rain following the start, rather than running the race in two sections so wet tyres can be fitted.
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Comment 1 - 7 of 7
I think it will addsome spice to the stagnant qualifying that we currently run. I wonder how the tyre rule will work? will the allocations change? I am pleased that the powers that be are looking to keep the sport exciting although this has been a pretty eventful year anyway.
To Hilary606 LOL!! wink
Such a pity - it was always a great and unique part of WSB. We don't - in any way - want to be like F1. They are going to bring down the excitement level and for what reason??????????
And any time set in an earlier qualification session should stand in later sessions,
cos if you put in the hard work on a busy track, you dont want it to go to waste if conditons get bad, or if you fall on your out lap in a later session.
I hope they dont start penalising riders for so-called blocking unless it is a blatent attempt to block. With most tracks so wide, its hard to think that a single bike can really block another, with the exception of sharp turns that have a single racing line.
f1 rules? i think the fans will notice something is amiss when ferrari are declared 2009 SBK champions
F1 rules I can't see any advantage in running F.1 rules. The only thing I hope is that WSB don't get boring like F1
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