New WorldSBK regulations are not 'anti-Ducati or anti-Alvaro Bautista’
The new WorldSBK regulations for 2024 are not “anti-Ducati or anti-Alvaro Bautista”, insists Steve English.
Notably, the maximum capacity of a fuel tank will be set at 21.0 litres while a minimum combined weight for rider and bike will be introduced.
“It’s easy to view the changes in a vacuum and think this is an anti-Ducati or anti-Bautista shift in ideology,” wrote WSBK commentator English.
“It would also discount what we’ve seen in the past. This is just the latest in a long line of such changes.
“When Kawasaki had the dominant bike, from 2012 until 2018 the green machine was the best bike on the grid, the attention they faced was on par with Ducati now.
“With the dice rolling slightly differently, Tom Sykes could have been a triple World Champion before Jonathan Rea started his run of six consecutive titles.
“For Sykes, the changes – which saw limits to development of the crankshaft, fixed gear ratios and lower revs – hurt him. He moved from being the top dog in the series to a supporting cast member.
“That Rea could still win showed his talent and speed but year on year the ZX10-RR was restrained more and more. It was subtle and gradual rather than the new raft of changes.”
What are the 2024 WSBK technical changes?
FUEL FLOW CONTROL: data collected through 2024 to implement in 2025
To incentive the environmental guidelines and give a platform for manufacturers to increase their machine developments in these areas for the future, it has been decided that, from 2025, a fuel flow control system will be mandatory to use. Therefore, in 2024, two bikes from each manufacturer will be required to fit a fuel flow meter and log data during both practices and races to validate the concept and define the value for 2025.
FUEL TANK REDUCATION AND REGULATIONS: a smaller tank
In 2024, a new fuel tank maximum capacity will be set at 21.0 litres.
COMBINED WEIGHT: new rules for 2024
In 2024, a combined weight for rider and machine has been defined by FIM-DWO-MSMA agreement.
RPM LIMITS: changes to when limits are set, intervention rules changed
This point was discussed in combination with the combined weight. In 2024, RPM limits will be set prior to the beginning of the 2024 season by FIM-DWO-MSMA agreement and will not be reduced during that season (with the exemption of FIM-DWO RPM reduction intervention in case of superconcession overshooting). Article 2.4.2.2 (balancing calculation) related to RPM reductions will be cancelled.
CRANKSHAFT AND THE BALANCE SHAFT: weight modifications allowed
Crankshaft and balance shaft weight may be modified by +/- 20% from the homologated weight measured during the FIM homologation inspection and the corresponding parts ‘kit’ must be a listed part in the FIM eligible parts list.
CHECKPOINT AND CONCESSION TOKEN CALCULATION: measured every two events from 2024
From 2024, this will be reviewed every two events instead of three as present.
SUPERCONCESSION AND CONCESSION PARTS: outline approval changes
The outline approval will be one month prior to the event and final detailed approval 14 days prior to the technical control day of the event removing the necessity to describe the super concession parts in the FIM SBK regulations. A specific communication will be put in place instead.
