World Superbike evaluating 2018 technical rules at Portimao
The World Superbike paddock is gearing up for 2018 with a number of teams beginning testing on next year’s machines which will also give series organisers the opportunity to assess any technical regulation rule changes.
Current updates to the rules being assessed are a unified electronic control unit for the World Superbike grid, similar to the one used in MotoGP, while a rev limiter is an option open to organisers as it aims to bring performance equality across all manufacturers.
The World Superbike paddock is gearing up for 2018 with a number of teams beginning testing on next year’s machines which will also give series organisers the opportunity to assess any technical regulation rule changes.
Current updates to the rules being assessed are a unified electronic control unit for the World Superbike grid, similar to the one used in MotoGP, while a rev limiter is an option open to organisers as it aims to bring performance equality across all manufacturers.
It is believed the FIM has put forward a proposal to introduce a single ECU to the MSMA [World Superbike manufacturer association] which is currently being assessed for 2018 but could face a delay until the 2019 season.
A second change to bring manufacturer equality is creating a rev limiter for World Superbike machines taken from the standard model of each make. Speaking to Eurosport TV in Portimao, Jonathan Rea says it will be something his Kawasaki Racing Team will experiment with during the in-season test at the Portuguese circuit today (18th September).
“With the expected regulation changes for next year to try and even out the whole field we are testing for 2018 so it is all work, work, work,” Rea said. “Nothing is for sure yet but they may look to cap revs on all bikes based on the standard models and that will affect us quite a lot as we have a lot more RPM than the standard model.
“That means it is almost back to what we had in 2015 when I had to have a high corner speed bike using a lot of momentum, which is more my style, so if I can remember how I used to ride it back then we should be okay.”
Initial work on testing possible technical rule changes is believed to have begun at Lausitzring last month with the Portimao test providing further information for all teams before the series organisers announces any official rule changes for 2018.
Series organisers Dorna introduced a rev limit rule in its new World Supersport 300 class this season to provide parity between manufacturers. The max RPM of each bike was adjusted from the Lausitzring ring onwards, with Honda CBR500R machines losing 1,000RPM (10,500RPM to 9,500RPM), Yamaha YZF-R3 bikes losing 150RPM (13,000RPM to 12,850RPM) while the Kawasaki Ninja 300’s RPM remained unchanged at 13,000RPM.
In the championship’s maiden campaign, Kawasaki has claimed three wins – including Ana Carrasco’s historic maiden female win in a world motorcycle championship – with Honda and Yamaha taking two wins each.
