A new era is beginning: 2022 marks a great change for the Supersport world championship, which sees a profound change in the technical regulations. The intermediate class of the production derivatives had already announced the end of an era with the end of the 2021 season. In fact, starting from this year, new rules apply that Dorna only clarifies today.
The renewed regulation has intrigued several manufacturers and teams, who have decided to embark on the project in Supersport, first of all Ducati, which brings seven Panigale V2s. In addition to the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, which will be divided into six teams, we also find the return of Triumph. The MV Agusta F3 800 Superveloce and the Suzuki GSX-R750 have also been homologated, even if the latter still does not appear in the final entry list published today.
But let’s get into the details of the regulation: the most innovative aspect certainly concerns the engine, the new generation motorcycles will not be able to undergo changes unless they are declared in the text or in the parts eligible for the competition. Furthermore, starting from 2022, the assignment of class 600 will be made on the basis of the calculation of the number of events and will be rounded up. Motorcycles from 400cc to 600cc will have an engine for each round and a half. Motorcycles from 601cc to 799cc will have one every three rounds and 800cc and above motorcycles will have one engine every three and a half rounds. Sample tests will be carried out before, during or after the season, which will take place in special facilities and which it will not be possible to attend, with the exception of FIM and Dorna. There remains the question of the engine rpm limits to be resolved, but that will be calculated once the balance tests have been completed.
The perplexities that the new Supersport had left mainly concerned the balance between the bikes, but Dorna and FIM have also worked in this sense: to ensure that there are no disparities, various factors will be taken into consideration, such as lap time. , speed measurements, race results, among others. Furthermore, every three rounds, at the discretion of FIM and Dorna, changes can be made to further balance performance and this work will be based on increasing or decreasing the percentage of power of the bike. To arrive at a starting balance, tests are carried out under the supervision of FIM and Mectronik, in which only Panta control fuel and Motul 300v lubricant is used.
The new rules also concern the weight, combined, minimum and maximum. The minimum combined weight threshold between bike and rider must be 242kg. The regulation now provides for a maximum ‘soft’ weight and a minimum ‘hard’ weight only for motorcycles. If the maximum ‘soft’ weight is exceeded, there is no need to add a combined minimum weight. The bike must never be below the minimum ‘hard’ weight, at the end of the race the bike and rider will be weighed and no weight can be added.
Finally, the news of Supersport also concern the tires, which will be reduced during the weekend. until 2021, each team had 17 tires available, while starting this year only 15 will be available, seven front and eight rear. Pirelli, the sole tire supplier, will supply a minimum of two compounds for both the front and rear.
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