The WSB championship will add an additional “sprint race” to each weekend round held in 2019. Apparently intended to increase fan interest (and, perhaps, TV revenue), the three-race format will certainly keep riders busy when combined with the usual practice and qualifying sessions occurring each weekend.
Details are still being worked out, but here is a brief statement from WSB organizers:
New era for the premier class on the horizon
Looking ahead to 2019, FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization have announced some updates to the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship race day schedule, which will welcome three races held over one weekend for the first time in the series history.
Sticking with the now traditional Race One on Saturday at 14.00h, this will open the weekend and will be the same duration. For the first time ever, Sunday will see the dawn of a short sprint race format at 11.00h. The weekend will conclude for the WorldSBK class with Race Three at 14.00h with usual duration, for all rounds held inside Central European Time.
Preparing for what is set to be a sensational weekend full of pure WorldSBK action, Dorna WSBK Organization and the FIM are working alongside riders, teams, manufacturers, circuits, broadcasters and sponsors to ensure the best format is decided throughout the 2019 season. Nail-biting and enthralling races will be guaranteed as we welcome the WorldSBK weekend into a brand-new era with a whole new experience for fans and viewers the world over.
Daniel Carrera, WorldSBK Executive Director explains: “To bring in a third ‘sprint race’ into the WorldSBK format for 2019 is something we have been planning for a long time now, so we are delighted to see the plans coming together. We are committed to bringing exciting races to the fans year on year, and we think the addition of a sprint race will add to the WorldSBK experience. We are continuing to work on the final adjustments and hope to bring more details in the near future.”
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In a bold move to save SBK racing, I heard they contemplated having Johnny start last in the sprint race, but ultimately settled on leaving him out altogether. It’s the only way to have a race he won’t win.
I would rather see World Supersport go to two races per weekend. Just a thought..
I already don’t care about WSBK because of the 2-race format. So….
Too many races for me, I don’t think it’s serious-minded.
I was ready to hate this, but it actually sounds cool. Full on sprint just riders trying to pump out all out laps for 8-9 laps sounds kind of awesome. I love strategy, but I also love balls out racing. Only concern is risk of injury to riders.
it’s the old Camel Challenge! 5 laps-winner got ten grand…
Tom Sykes might win a lot of these. He can be very fast in short distances, but can’t conserve tires as well as Rea over a full race.
This is WSBK trying to give other racers an opportunity to win. Rea’s dominance, one can argue, and some of the Dorna/SBK have stated, is not necessarily good for WSBK.
Especially since Kawasaki, and I’ve stated this before, isn’t in MotoGP. The other factories are focusing on MotoGP and not so much WSBK, if at all. But Kawasaki has been putting all their money on Rea.
In that regard, and I’m a Rea fan, so no haters please, but Rea’s titles need an asterisk next to them. *Kawasaki backed out of MotoGP to put all its money in WSBK.
Just think if the other factories decided to make WSBK their focus.
Anyway, these short sprint races are going to be harder for Rea to win because others like Sykes won’t have to worry about tire wear. Could be a lot of fun!
“not necessarily good for WSBK”? Definitely not good for WSBK. I have stopped watching because of Rea. Who wants to watch him win every week? Even if you are a fan you can’t think this is good racing.
I agree with you. I’ve stopped watching it too. It used to be so great about 8-10 years ago.
Now I just read the post race news report.
You are so right. Remember the 2008 Monza round? Race 1, Max Neukirchner, Noriyuki Haga, Troy Bayliss and Yukio Kagayama. Kagayama finished fourth and he was only 0.771 off the winner. Race 2 Max was 2nd by 0.009 and Kiyonari was 3rd, 0.051 sec off the winner. Man that was some awesome racing! Wish we could get that back.
The best should win, and the best the last four years was the duo Rea-Kawasaki. Maybe they has put all the money like no other manufacturer has done (what’s the problem ?, it’s against the laws?), but the ONLY Kawasaki that wins repeatedly it’s Rea’s one, look where is Sykes in the championship…
This could actually be pretty interesting. No need to be concerned with tire preservation. Risky to stay behind an opponent for too long in an attempt to gauge strengths and weeknesses.
I’m intrigued and might actually watch a few WSBK races to check it out which I’m sure is what they were hoping for with this.
Geez. I heard that if this third race “works out” they’re going to add a figure 8 race, you know, to get the fans excited. Unfortunately, Rea will probably win those too.
Errrr…why?
Seems like an answer to a question no one ever asked.
Money. Always about the money. More races, more money. More tv coverage, more money.
Racers pushing the limit more often, more danger (more accidents, injuries, repair bikes… hopefully no serious increase in injuries..)