The Superbike Commission, composed of MM. Gregorio LAVILLA (Dorna, WorldSBK Executive Director), Paul KING (Director of the FIM Circuit Racing Commission), Biense BIERMA (General Secretary of the MSMA), coordinated by Paul DUPARC (Manager of the FIM Circuit Racing Commission – SBK Secretary of the Commission), in the presence of Ludovic REIGNIER (FIM WorldSBK Technical Director), Dominique HEBRARD (FIM CTI Technical Manager) and Roland BERGER (FIM CTI Director) met on numerous occasions in recent weeks.
With the Superbike World Championship now being mature, the FIM, Dorna and the MSMA have decided to work on the long term and have defined some concepts on which this Championship will have to evolve.
The stakeholders are keen to include them in an even more virtuous policy with regard to the environment and to continue to balance the performance of the machines while limiting their performances for safety.
For the WorldSBK class, the following concepts have been then decided and will be appropriately drafted in the Technical Rules that will be written for the 2024 season:
- FUEL FLOW CONTROL
To incentive the environmental guidelines and give a platform for manufacturers to increase their machine developments in these areas for the future, it has been decided that, from 2025, a fuel flow control system will be mandatory to use. Therefore, in 2024, two bikes from each manufacturer will be required to fit a fuel flow meter and log data during both practices and races to validate the concept and define the value for 2025.
- FUEL TANK REDUCTION AND REGULATIONS
In 2024, a new fuel tank maximum capacity will be set at 21.0 litres.
- COMBINED WEIGHT
In 2024, a combined weight for rider and machine has been defined by FIM-DWO-MSMA agreement.
- RPM LIMITS (this point was discussed in combination with the combined weight)
In 2024, RPM limits will be set prior to the beginning of the 2024 season by FIM-DWO-MSMA agreement and will not be reduced during that season (with the exemption of FIM-DWO RPM reduction intervention in case of superconcession overshooting). Article 2.4.2.2 (balancing calculation) related to RPM reductions will be cancelled.
- CRANKSHAFT AND THE BALANCE SHAFT
Crankshaft and balance shaft weight may be modified by +/- 20% from the homologated weight measured during the FIM homologation inspection and the corresponding parts ‘kit’ must be a listed part in the FIM eligible parts list.
- CHECKPOINT AND CONCESSION TOKEN CALCULATION
From 2024, this will be reviewed every two events instead of three as present.
- SUPER CONCESSION AND CONCESSION PARTS
The outline approval will be one month prior to the event and final detailed approval 14 days prior to the technical control day of the event removing the necessity to describe the super concession parts in the FIM SBK regulations. A specific communication will be put in place instead.
On Saturday October 28th, a formal meeting of the SBK Commission will take place during the final round of the Championship. During this meeting, various sporting and disciplinary points will be raised and possible additional technical points could also be discussed.
The resolutions of this Superbike Commission have been approved by the Permanent Bureau.
A regularly updated version of the FIM SBK Regulations which contains the detailed text of the regulation changes may be viewed shortly on the FIM website.