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Before the 2025 Australian round at Phillip Island, it has been confirmed that the races World SBK Superbike and WorldSSP Supersport will follow a flag-to-flag format, involving all riders making a mandatory pit stop to change tyres.

The decision follows concerns over the unpredictable weather conditions and wide range of track temperatures expected at Phillip Island from 21-23 February. Combined with the circuit’s unique layout and challenging surface, these factors made this precautionary measure necessary to ensure the safety and competitiveness of the event. A similar approach was successfully implemented in the 2024 season following the resurfacing of the circuit.

After a thorough analysis of the circuit's characteristics, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) have determined that rear tyres were not to exceed 11 laps for WorldSBK class and 10 laps for WorldSSP class. As a result, WorldSBK Race 1 and 2 distances will be set at 20 laps, and riders will have two extra sets of tyres available for the weekend.

Gregorio lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director, said:  “Phillip Island is renowned for its fast and exciting track, but it also presents unique challenges due to its surface and rapid weather changes. Despite improvements to the track conditions over time, it remains extremely demanding, especially when you bear in mind that this is the first round of the season where teams are still fine-tuning their basic set-ups. Based on our experience at Phillip Island, we concluded that imposing a mandatory pit stop was the best approach to maintain the quality of racing. By adopting this format, we are ensuring that all participants can compete in fair and safe conditions in what promises to be an exciting start to the season.”