The 2022 season is almost upon us, Superbike and Supersport teams and riders are warming up their engines for the first tests of a year that promises to be decidedly interesting from all points of view. One of these concerns the regulation, entirely renewed for the intermediate class, but with some revisions also for the Superbike, as announced today by the SBK Commission, formed by Gregorio Lavilla (Dorna, WorldSBK Executive Director), Franck Vayssié (FIM), Andrea Dosoli (Yamaha), Paolo Marchetti (Kawasaki), Marco Zambenedetti (Ducati), Marc Bongers (BMW) and Brian Gillen (MV Agusta), coordinated by Paul Duparc (FIM).
Shortly before the new year, the news regarding MotoGP had been made official and many of the changes are also found in the production derivatives, including the introduction of the Judges of Facts.
Sporting regulations
The most important change, however, concerns the Superpole Race, which until last year had a minimum of 5 laps to restart after the interruption. From 2022 on the other hand, the sprint race, which in normal conditions is always made up of 10 laps, will have a minimum of 8 laps in the restart after the stop. This decision was made by the SBK Commission following the aggressiveness shown in the restarts that took place up to 2021. With only 5 laps, all the riders pushed to the maximum, creating potentially dangerous situations, therefore it was decided to increase the minimum number of laps to be completed in the restart.
Disciplinary regulation
As already announced for the MotoGP, the figure of the Judges of Facts will be introduced. Also present in the field of Endurance, the Judges of Facts will have the task of judging infringements of the regulations, such as early departures, track limits. Just like in the premier class of prototypes, even in Superbike it will not be possible to appeal the decision of these judges. It is confirmed that protests and appeals, in addition to the decisions of the FIM WorldSBK Stweards Panel, are communicated on the monitors or on the official bulletin boards, and will thus be considered valid.
Medical regulation
Just like in MotoGP, new medical innovations are introduced in Superbike when it comes to assessing whether or not an injured rider is given the green light. Assessments will be made with the Medical Director, the FIM WorldSBK Medical Director, an FIM Medical Director, the FIM Medical Director and / or the FIM Medical Representative to determine if he is able to get on the track. These will evaluate the tests carried out and the information provided by the pilots’ doctors.
The analysis of the helmet will also be introduced, which will be brought to the Medical Center of the circuit in question and checked by the Technical Director. Only later will it be returned to the driver or team manager. In the event that the injury concerns the head (concussion or loss of consciousness, for example), the helmet will be transported to the FIM Laboratory of the University of Zaragoza for further non-destructive examinations and analyzes. The helmet manufacturer, who may be present in the laboratory during the analysis, will be informed of the tests carried out and will have the right to approve or reject them. Once the analysis is complete, the helmet will be returned to the driver or the manufacturer once all the exams have been completed.
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