British Superbike re-affirms 2008 regulations

British Superbike took the unprecedented step of issuing the following press release during the World Superbikes weekend at Brands Hatch.

This was to confirm it’s intentions of going to more superport-spec engine regulations for the series year which falls into line with the rule changes the AMA and All Japan domestic series appear to be planning – but which are at odds with the future World Superbike rule books.

However, the FIM also issued a press release announcing their intention to hamornize national superbike racing across the globe.

The British Superbike press release reads: “MCRCB, the organiser of this weekend’s Superbike World Championship event at Brands Hatch and the creator and organiser of the British Superbike Championship (BSB) have viewed with interest the FIM Press Release of 29th July which references Superbike Technical Regulations (www.fim.ch).

Concerning the harmonisation of National Superbike Championships, the 2008 British Superbike Technical Regulations were first published in draft in June 2006 and presented at the FIM “Superbike summit” in Rome (attended by FG Sport, AMA, DMSB, FMI, MA, MFJ, MSMA).

They were confirmed in May 2007 and were created as a result of close co-operation with the manufacturers and teams competing in the British Superbike Championship, very much with the philosophy of promoting the intrinsic link between retail and racing products.

Shortly after, the AMA issued the 2009 USA Superbike Championship regulations which are very similar, and we believe the Japanese series is also operating in parity.

Therefore the objective of the major Superbike National Championships operating with a harmonized technical platform has already been realised in principal through the close co-operation and dialogue between the organising bodies (MCRCB, AMA and MFJ).

MCRCB and the British Superbike Championship also welcome the statement concerning superbike technical rules being closer to production series.

This principle is already the foundation of the British Superbike 2008 Technical Regulations especially concerning the use of homologated components such as standard pistons and connecting rods. 

The 2009 AMA Superbike regulations are also mirroring this, as well as the insistence that motorcycles permitted to race in the championship fulfil strict homologation conditions concerning retail production volumes.

The FIM press release stated: “Meetings were held in Tokyo on Thursday and Friday and in Suzuka on Sunday between FIM President Vito Ippolito and FIM Sports Director Ignacio Verneda, and Senior Executives of each of the four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, among them Messrs Takeo Fukui, Honda Motor Company President, Takashi Kajikawa, Yamaha Motor Company President, Hirotaka Ono, Suzuki Motor Corporation Board Member, Senior Executive Director and Masamoto Tazaki, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Chairman of the Board.

“Moreover, the FIM delegation (also including FIM Vice-President Robert Rasor, Chairman of the Working Group on Alternative Energies, CCR President Claude Danis and CTI President Oriol Puig Bulto) met representatives of the Japanese manufacturers together yesterday at the Flower Garden Hotel near the
Suzuka circuit.

“The following topics were presented: global problem of sound level, essentially in the off-road area, alternative energies, the presence of women in motorcycling, and, among the sporting subjects, the future of 125cc and 250cc classes in Grand Prix, the harmonisation of Superbike Technical Rules for all the major existing National Championships, new Technical Rules for Superbike as from 2010 (motorcycles closer to production series), support of the industry for the Endurance World Championship, future of existing classes in Motocross and Enduro, use of two-stroke engines for youth classes, events outside Europe for Enduro and Trial World Championships, classes for young riders in Trial (50cc, 80cc, 125cc), and the possibility for the Japanese industry to provide engines for all classes in the existing Speedway and Ice Racing World Championships.”

The FIM has decided to establish a strategic plan in order to define its short, mid-term and long-term objectives.

The support and input of the Japanese industry, as a major stakeholder of motorcycle sport, will be requested. The FIM would like to establish a permanent and regular line of communication with the Japanese industry on various matters involving the different motorcycle sport disciplines as well as for non-sporting aspects (motorcycle users, road safety and public policy, etc.).

Other meetings will be soon scheduled with representatives of the other motorcycle industries, aiming at strengthening the relationships between them and FIM and discussing the future of motorcycling in all areas.