World Superbike Engine Rules 2019
Carl Foggy Petronas FP1 was also launched in 2003. The bike was developed under the previous regulations and powered by a three-cylinder engine with a displacement of 900 cc. As most Ducati bikes were used, the championship received the pejorative title of “Ducati Cup”. [6] [8] The Ducati factory team fielded the only two Ducati 999s in the peloton, taking 20 wins in 24 races in a season where all races were won by Ducati. Neil Hodgson won the title on a factory Ducati. The FIM eventually included the 1,200cc displacement limit for twins in the 2008 Superbike regulations. Under the new rules, two-cylinder motorcycles would be 6kg heavier than four-cylinder engines (168kg to 162kg) and would also have a 50mm air limiter. The weight limit and intake limiter size of the twin machines would be updated as needed during the championship by a system that analyzes the race points scored. [22] With a similar philosophy to that of the GP, it was decided to update the classification rules after an interrupted race and to clarify the situation of drivers in the pit lane when the red flag was displayed. – Prohibition to start machines in the box. For safety reasons, it is never allowed to start the engine of a racing bike in the pit. The engines must be started in the pit lane outside the pit. The WorldSBK engine regulations are quite clear: a four-cylinder engine is limited to 1000cc; The regulations leave manufacturers free to choose their preferred configuration, and while the majority use an inline-four engine, Ducati is an aberration with a V4 configuration.
When the Ducati Panigale V4R was launched for 2019, the Italian manufacturer gained a step on the field with a powerful, high-revving engine that played to the strengths of then-leader Alvaro Bautista. The bike was revolutionary and certainly the one that seemed to be at the mercy of the WorldSBK title. Reduction in the number of engines as a cost-saving measure – in conjunction with speed limit and concession parts. Comparing engine configurations has been a racing constant in recent years. In WorldSBK, the V4 configuration is known for its smoother power, unlike MotoGP, ™ and the ability to carry the speed around corners is the way to achieve a fast lap time. With a wide power range, the V4 can easily find power at any point in the rev range, while inline-four engines require stop-and-go styling. Following the introduction of the Ducati 1098 in 2007, powered by a 1,099cc V-twin engine, Ducati demanded that the Superbike rules be changed to allow V-twins up to 1,200cc to compete with 1,000cc four-cylinder motorcycles. Ducati argued that they were no longer producing a 1,000cc V-twin superbike in roadworthy condition[19] and that the level of configuration now required to make their 999 competitive on the track was too expensive. [20] Ducati said they would resign if the rules were not changed,[19] while Alstare Suzuki team boss Francis Batta also said his team would retire if the new rules gave Ducati an unfair advantage.
The Superbike World Championship began in 1988 and was open to the public to modified versions of road bike models.[21] For many years, formula allowed machines equipped with 1,000cc twin-cylinder engines (mainly Ducati, then Aprilia and Honda) to compete with 750cc four-cylinder engines (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki). In the first seasons, Honda won with the RC30, but gradually the twins gained the upper hand. The use of 1,000cc V twin-cylinder engines benefited Ducati and was able to dominate the championship for many years, but the 750cc finished second or third every year between 1994 and 1999. [ref. needed] The most significant changes concerned the rules of the 2019 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship. The goal of the balancing solution was not to reduce all machines to the slowest level, but to work on balancing medium-power motorcycles. The electronic control system is an option for 2019 and mandatory for 2020. The Superbike Commission has approved a number of clarifications and editorials regarding the Technical Regulations: The Superbike Commission has made significant changes to the regulations for the 2019 FIM Superbike and Supersport World Championships. An exception to this rule is the Yamaha. Known for its smooth handling and usable power, the R1 looks a lot more like the Ducati V4 than you can imagine. With a crossplane engine, absolute top speed was sometimes a concern, but its smooth delivery means cornering speed has always been their calling card.
However, as their top speed has increased in recent years, they have developed braking capability to allow drivers to use more stop-and-go style. How can lap times be so tight? I mean – how dare they? One of the reasons shared by the crooked veterans of the GP paddock is that current MotoGP bikes are not only too limited in terms of specifications, engine life and fuel consumption, but also the completely wrong engine type. Before the establishment of the current four times, natural evolution meant that both times were firmly under control. The two-strokes are significantly lighter, more compact and (cc for ccm) more powerful than the four-strokes and can today be burned at least as cleanly with turbocharging. But they left. Honda realised that 1,000cc V-twin engines were more suited to the Superbike racing formula and introduced its own V-twin motorcycle, the VTR1000 SPW, in 2000.