[kropotkin thinks...] - WorldSBK Organizers Attempt To Inject Excitement By Manipulat

[Ninjette Newsbot]

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The Superbike Commission, governing body for the WorldSBK series, met at Madrid to introduce a number of changes to the rules for the World Superbike and World Supersport championships for 2017. There were some minor changes to the sporting regulations, as well as a couple of tweaks to the technical regulations. But there were also two major changes which will have a significant impact for next season and beyond.

The biggest change is also the most surprising and the least comprehensible. There is to be a major shake up in the way the grid for the second World Superbike race is set. The Superpole session run on Saturday morning will continue to set the grid for Race 1. The grid for Race 2, however, will be partially set by the results of Race 1, using a slightly complex formula.

[Alex]

I think this change could be interesting! For those who don't follow this series closely, there are 2 races per weekend, Race 1 & Race 2. Previously, the qualifying session set the grid order for both races. If you're pole, you're automatically pole for both, no matter how well or poorly you actually finish in Race 1.

Now - the Race 2 starting positions will be dependent (mostly) on race 1 finishing order.

from here:

* The top three riders in race one will move back to row three, and see 1st and 3rd reverse their positions. So the 1st place rider will start from 9th, 2nd place from 8th and 3rd from 7th.

* Riders who finished in 4th, 5th and 6th will be promoted to the front row. So 4th will start from pole, 5th from 2nd and 6th from 3rd.

* Riders who finished in 7th, 8th and 9th will start from the second row. So 7th will start from 4th, 8th from 5th and 9th from 6th.

Race 1 winner starts in 9th place for Race 2...

[Koala]

This makes me think of handicapping in horse races. The faster the horse is the more weight they have to carry to try and make it a more even and exciting race. I'm not real into the idea but that's just me.