HANNSPREE SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Series Overview

The HANNSPREE SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (SBK) is one of the top three professional road racing series in the world (along with Formula 1 and MotoGP).

Whereas MotoGP utilizes purpose-built, prototype motorcycles (much as Formula 1 utilizes purpose-built cars), Superbike racing utilizes modified production motorcycles. Superbike racing is very popular with manufacturers, since it helps promote and sell their product. “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday” is very relevant in Superbike racing.

While many countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States (AMA Superbike) operate national Superbike championships, SBK is the next level up the professional ladder.

History

SBK (www.worldsbk.com) was founded in 1988. It runs to regulations set forth by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), which is located in Mies, Switzerland (near Geneva). It is managed and promoted by FGSport, based in Rome, Italy, which is headed by brothers Maurizio and Paolo Flammini.

The champions crowned over the years in SBK are household names among motorcycle racing enthusiasts. The United States has been well represented throughout the series’ history, with titles claimed by Fred Merkel (1988-89), Doug Polen (1991-92), Scott Russell (1993), John Kocinski (1997) and Colin Edwards (2000, 2002). The most successful rider in SBK history is England’s Carl Fogarty, who won the championship four times (1994-95, 1998-99).

Ducati has been the most successful manufacturer in the series over the years, with the Italian manufacturer winning 12 times. Honda has won six times, with Kawasaki and Suzuki each claiming one championship.

SBK in America

SBK first came to the United States in 1989, the second year of the series’ existence, at Minnesota’s Brainerd International Raceway. Brainerd remained a fixture on the calendar through the 1991 season. The series did not return to the U.S. until 1995, when it went to Laguna Seca Raceway, near Monterey, California, where it remained through the 2004 season. Miller Motorsports Park will mark the return of SBK to America for the first time since 2004.

The Championship - Classes

There are four classes that compete under the SBK banner: World Superbike Championship, World Supersport Championship, the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup and the European Superstock 600 Championship. At Miller Motorsports Park, we will host only the World Superbike Championship in 2008, and will add the World Supersport Championship from 2009 onward.

For 2008, SBK motorcycles must have four-stroke engines of between 850-1200cc for two-cylinder engines, and between 750-1000cc for three- and four-cylinder engines. Since 2004, to balance out the performance of the various engine configurations, differentiated levels of preparation have been permitted. Two- and three-cylinder engines up to 900cc are allowed to change all the rotating parts in the engine (only the crankcase, cylinder heads, cylinder blocks and the number of cylinders must remain the same as on the standard bikes). Four-cylinder engines are required to use a larger number of road-going components (including the crankshaft, valvegear, etc.). Minimum weight is set at 357.15 lb (370.38 for two-cylinders starting in 2008, with a 50mm restrictor), as measured at the end of the race, with a tolerance of only 1%. Refueling or adding oil is not permitted. SBK racing uses standard lead-free fuel.

World Supersport Championship bikes must have four-stroke engines of between 400-600cc for four-cylinder engines, and between 600-750cc for two-cylinder engines. Minimum weight is 357.15 lb for four-cylinder machines, and 374.79 lb for two-cylinder machines.

The Championship – Points

Both riders and constructors compete for championship points. Riders finishing in the top 15 positions earn points in each race, and constructors earn points for the highest-placed bike of their brand finishing the race.

Points are awarded as follows:

The Championship – Schedule

2008 SBK Schedule:

The Championship – Event Format

An SBK weekend includes two feature races, both held on Sunday (or the final day of the event). Customarily, Friday will include a one-hour practice session and a one-hour qualifying session. Saturday includes a second one-hour qualifying session, a one-hour practice session, and then the Superpole qualifying session, a single-lap timed shootout among the fastest 16 riders in qualifying to determine the starting grid. On Sunday morning there is a 20-minute warm-up session, then two feature races, one at noon and one at 3:30 pm.

The Championship – 2008 Teams and Riders (Provisional)

The Championship - Final 2007 Standings

James Toseland captured his second series title by two points over Noriyuki Haga.

The Championship – Former Champions

The Championship – The Audience

According to materials provided by FGSport, SBK hosted 1 million onsite spectators during 2006 (an increase of 12.3% over 2005), with 2 billion television viewers enjoying more than 2800 broadcast hours on 95 TV networks in 173 countries.

The series averages 80 journalists in attendance at each event, representing 150 magazines, plus newspapers, local TV, websites, etc.