WSBK – Regulations of the World Superbike 2015: ciao l’Evo! –

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Regulations of the World Superbike 2015: ciao the Evo !

WSBK - Regulations of the World Superbike 2015: ciao l'Evo! -

A little tour and then go: the Evo category inaugurated this season by the Dorna disappears from the World Superbike 2015! The new WSBK regulation is meant to be simpler and aims to reduce – even more! – the costs. Site does the accounts…

Developed by the Dorna, promoter of MotoGP which also at the end of 2012, the Evo subcategory made it possible to fill the grid of the World Superbike 2014, thanks to its formula "Stock engine + part cycle Superbike" advantageous from a financial point of view.

In sporting terms, however, the small teams involved in this category are not successful: of course, at the end of each race, the first Evo motorcycle has the honor of entering the parc ferme, but the public and the media only have eyes for the three motorcycles mounted on the "real" SBK podium !

The best Evo drivers have to be content, as their best result, with rare forays into the Top 10. Davide Salom and Niccolo Canepa, who are best placed for the Evo "title", only appear in 12th and 13th places in the standings. general, very far behind the leader Sykes.

In 2015, this two-speed World Superbike will therefore be wiped out: "the championship will return to its unique platform", decided the Superbike commission composed of Javier Alonso (WSBK general manager), Ignacio Verneda (FIM general and sports manager) and Takanao Tsubouchi (representative of MSMA manufacturers).

WSBK 2015 regulations: between Evo and WSBK 2014

During their last meeting on June 12 at the Barcelona circuit in the presence of Daniel Carrera (WSBK championship director) and Gregorio Lavilla (WSBK sports director), the big bosses of the discipline confirmed that the regulations of the WSBK 2015 would be based on that of the current Evo … with a few amendments !

If few changes are to be expected with regard to the cycle part (standard frame, specific suspensions and oscillating arm), modifications will be permitted on the engine, at the cylinder head (camshafts, intake and exhaust ducts). exhaust) and connecting rods (similar material and same weight).

The valves, pistons and all other major parts must however remain original, just like the crankcases. The question of the gearbox has been greatly simplified: a single selection of "race" gears will be kept throughout the season. !

Likewise, the handicaps inflicted on over-performing motorcycles (!) Will only be inflicted by means of flanges at the air intake. The ballasts that were supposed to make it possible to level the performance between the 1200 cc twin-cylinder and the 1000 cc 4-cylinder go to the hatch.

Electronics, the third capital element on a racing motorcycle these days, is also evolving: a Superbike kit will be set up to allow each official team to continue to develop its own programs, but these must be provided to private teams. three times during the season.

The price of this kit (8000 euros) will include all the material necessary for the correct functioning of the system. In order to encourage "wildcards" – participation of local teams in certain events – the electronic Superstock kit can be used..

Finally, motorcycles without ride by wire in their road version can still be fitted in 2015 and 2016, provided that the mounted system is made available to teams entered in the WSBK or in other FIM championships..

This kit must be supplied either by the manufacturer directly, or by a single supplier – "for security purposes", invokes the commission which set its price at 2500 euros. From 2017 on the other hand, the original system must be kept.

The opinion of the pilot Sylvain Barrier

"Finally, it is a regulation which is between those of the current Superbike and Evo", summarizes Sylvain Barrier questioned by Site about his, which gave us his position on this crucial question of the regulation.

"There are good and bad sides … Some teams, like Adrien’s (Morillas, who is running Jeremy Guarnoni this year in SBK Evo, NDLR), may not be able to follow next year because the budget will exceed one million euros", suspiciously considers the double champion of Superstock 1000.

This high entry ticket will undoubtedly lead to a – strong? – decrease in the number of registrants in 2015 … Of the nine teams lined up in Evo this year (see), how many will be able to continue their adventure next year ?

"On the other hand, all brands should remain competitive", continues our dear" Syl’20 ", including those whose machines are starting to date … Honda Fireblade, Suzuki GSX-R and Yamaha R1 not to mention them !

"BMW will release a new motorcycle next year (Yup, Editor’s note!), Yamaha also (re-yep, Editor’s note!) ", affirms the double champion of Superstock 1000:"these new models will be more powerful and will have the latest electronics".

"By allowing teams to prepare their engines, we are already reducing the gaps a little.", notes Sylvain Barrier."There remains the question of electronics", on which the committee is working hard because it becomes central !

Also contacted by Site, the Superbike sports coordinator at Kawasaki, Fabien Raulo, recalls that "the new regulations have been the subject of discussions between the manufacturers and all are more or less happy with it: the electronics are open and at 8000 euros, it is for Kawa and Aprilia, the ride by wire for Honda and Kawa, the connecting rods for Ducati"…

The opinion of the "Ninja" Fabien Raulo

"The cost to factories actually decreases", continues Fabien Raulo, but the bill climbs for the private teams:"this season, electronics cost 1500 euros + 5000 euros for data (data acquisition, NDLR). Next year, it will be 8,000 euros for electronics and 2,500 euros for ride by wire (RBW)"…

However, there could be extensions: "in addition to the engine management, Marelli may very well require 3000 or 4000 euros for the data, and Kawasaki ask for 500 euros for the installation of the RBW … add 4000 euros of harness, multiply everything by two to prevent breakage and that’s not far from 40,000 euros per motorcycle", quickly calculate the Ninja…

"And beyond the electronic system itself, you need someone to manage it", observes Raulo San. At Kawasaki, some basic" maps "will be delivered, establishing a perimeter in which the teams can play. But beware, going beyond this playing field could prove to be counterproductive…

"These are very, very advanced systems", underlines Fabien Raulo,"and if the telemetry manager forgets to replace a sensor, zero the suspensions, etc., the rider risks ending up with a motorcycle completely upside down !"

"Teams who knew how to manage 2D Data with a trainee "Telemetry" will be much more bothered if they have to manage a complete engine management program", he continues … Even the HRC, on its CBR1000RR, sometimes seems to lose its Japanese! Here again, the training of the teams risks generating new expenses…

The mechanics, on the contrary, do not explode the costs. "I would have liked moreover that the work on the cylinder head was authorized from this year: a preparer makes a beautiful one for 1000 euros and one does not necessarily need to change it when one remakes the engine. Three cylinder heads are enough to equip the six engines allocated per season".

700,000 euros per season

"In the end, to have a good season, the budget to be released will be around 700,000 euros, depending on the experience (and therefore salary expectations) of the team members, and excluding driver salaries.", entrusts our interlocutor to Site."We thus arrive roughly at the cost of a season of Supersport at the top level".

"With us (Kawasaki, NDLR), Pedercini will always be there, but MRS (Morillas Racing School) is not sure of being able to stay in Superbike because he was already limited this year, just like Grillini who lives from one year to the next depending on the sponsors"…

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