Dorna Sports is the Spanish company that manages the MotoGP and WorldSBK championships.
After having worked successfully to make it as attractive as possible (we have 23 drivers including the first 4 in 10 points at mid-season), it intends to take urgent measures to restore the image of the second, dominated by Kawasaki and in disaffection with enthusiasts.
Thus, in an interview given to CycleWorld, Carmelo Ezpeleta declared: “World Superbike is a championship for production motorcycles. In the past it was a championship that wanted to compete with MotoGP, but it doesn't work. You cannot compete with MotoGP. We have to go back to the original idea. The rules must be changed for the 2018 season. All manufacturers agree on the urgency of these changes. They practically agree to adopt the Superstock 1000 rules for Superbike and we discuss the introduction of the single ECU like in MotoGP. Today, Superbikes are more prototypes than production motorcycles, which is not possible. We are discussing many possibilities with manufacturers. »
The first measure is supposed to be to use strictly production engines, from next year, which Gigi Dall'Igna finds it premature, in his remarks reported on Motoracing : « I find this a very unlikely scenario. Making such a radical change for the next season would be too big a change for the factories. I find it difficult that a change of this size could be made next year, there have been no official discussions within the MSMA itself but only one informal exchange of views between the organizers and the factories. Undoubtedly, an even more Superstock-oriented regulation would help reduce the cost of material and management, but factories that have a non-performing stock base would risk leaving, so a compromise might be necessary anyway. »
Another topic of discussion, a unique ECU, like in MotoGP. Kawasaki offered to make his available to everyone, but here again the Italian engineer is cautious: « I would say no, because giving a monopoly on electronics to one factory would create inevitable conflicts of interest. If you have to talk about a single unit and its software, I think it is more likely that the organizer chooses an independent platform with a control unit that has an acceptable cost for the SBK and perhaps a software derived from MotoGP, but simplified as much as possible. This would represent a more fair and balanced platform for everyone. »
Standard engines, unique ECU and very probably more tires comparable to qualifying tyres: it is certain that Superbikes will no longer come to the MotoGP flowerbeds, but this race to the bottom is undoubtedly the only way to make the races competitive and attractive, which, in the long term, is essential to survive…
