SBK: minimum bike+rider weight to be introduced in 2024

It’s been one of the hot topics in Superbike in recent weeks, and now it appears that a solution has been found. We’re talking about the bike+rider weight limit, a debate that returned to the fore after Alvaro Bautista made a triumphant return aboard the Ducati.

All to be discovered

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The current Superbike regulation - contrary to that of Supersport and Supersport300 - does not currently cite a minimum weight, but this is soon set to change. A few final details still need to be ironed out, but it looks certain that an initial limit will be introduced into the regulation as of 2024, as a way of further leveling the performance of the various bikes and riders. In this respect, Superbike will take action before MotoGP, where a limit is not yet present, despite some complaints.

It remains to be seen how this will play out, and how many teams and riders will in fact be happy with this decision. “The weight of the rider brings advantages and disadvantages”, Aruba Team Principal Stefano Cecconi commented recently, “we weren’t in favour of this regulation when we had Redding and Davies on the team either”. One thing is certain - this new rule will definitely cause debate.

Translated by Heather Watson

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