Australian WorldSBK and WorldSSP set to be flag to flag
Stop start procedure to be introduced on Sunday at Phillip Island
Ahead of the final day of the Yamaha Finance Australian Round, it has been announced that both the World Superbike and World Supersport races are set to be flag to flag, with WorldSBK riders entering the pits after 12 laps, and WorldSSP riders after just nine laps.
With Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Offical WorldSSP Team) starting on pole position for the first FIM Supersport World Championship race of 2018, the race will be shortened to 16 laps on Sunday, giving the riders chance to battle for the opening victory of the season.
23 WorldSSP riders are set to line up on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit grid this weekend, and they will have the added challenge of a flag-to-flag shoot out around the 4.4km circuit, whilst reducing their distance by two laps. Usual circumstances of this format tend to come with weather conditions, but we will see the riders taking on the circuit in dry conditions this weekend.
As WorldSBK riders prepare for race two with the reversed grid format on Sunday, they will now prepare with the flag to flag race if we start under dry conditions. They must enter the pits at the end of lap 10, 11 or 12, but if we have a wet race, standard procedures will apply.
Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Sporting Director explains: “Unfortunately we had some issues regarding the tyre life. Following a meeting with the teams to discuss the possible options, we decided the best way was to do a flag to flag, which luckily our rules comply with. We normally use it for climatic purposes, but now we are using it for other purposes, unless its rains.”
Keep up with the racing action from Sunday at Phillip Island as the lights go out for the WorldSSP race at 13.30LT (+11 GMT), and at 15.00LT for WorldSBK Race Two, all followed on the VideoPass.
