WorldSBK Pit Stops Explained
WorldSBK Pit Stops Explained
As if this weekend’s WorldSBK season opener in Phillip Island wasn’t already set to be exciting enough, an eleventh-hour curve ball was thrown at teams and riders on Thursday when it was announced that all feature races in both the Superbike and Supersport classes would require mandatory pit stops.
Analysis of tyres used in Tuesday’s test by sole tyre supplier Pirelli, in conjunction with the FIM, determined that it may not be safe for riders to complete full race distance on Phillip Island’s “super grippy” and abrasive new surface.
Therefore, it has been decided that a maximum of 11 laps can be completed on any one rear tyre.
In response to this, event organisers have reduced the distance of the weekend’s two feature WorldSBK races from 22 to 20 laps, with a mandatory pit stop between lap nine and 11 to change tyres to complete the race.
This adds a new dimension to teams’ planning and strategy from the very first practice session, as focus switches from how to be as clever as possible over 22 consecutive laps, to how to be as fast as possible over two 9-11 lap sprints.
In WorldSBK, riders only have one bike in the garage so pit stops are a busy but coordinated affair to change both the front and rear tyre, in a similar fashion to that seen in Endurance racing.
Head to the Yamaha Racing website to find out how pit stops work in WorldSBK and what to expect this weekend!
Yamaha Racing