Phillip Island WSB: Superpole explained

The all new World Superbike Superpole kicked off at Phillip Island today.

After ten years of running the one lap Superpole shootout where the fastest 16 riders after regulation qualifying entered the final time session it’s all change for 2009.

New rules see the top 20 riders who record the fastest lap times in qualifying practice take part in the Superpole session, now to be held in a ‘shootout’ format. The 20 riders complete the first period of qualifying (12 minutes), with the four slowest riders eliminated from the second period of qualifying.

After a seven minute interval a second 12 minute period of qualifying begins where a further eight riders are eliminated, leaving a final eight riders.  After another seven minute interval the final eight riders get 12 minutes to determine their place on the first two rows of the grid.

The total time for the Superpole is now 50 minutes with each rider getting two sets of qualifying tyres.