The Supersport World Championship, abbreviated to WorldSSP, is a motorcycle racing competition on hard-surfaced circuits, based on mid-sized sports motorcycles. Competition machines were originally based on production-based motorcycles with 600 cc to 955 cc engines, depending on the number of cylinders. After trials in UK national series British Supersport, from 2022 the regulations have changed to allow eligibility of larger-displacement engines, to reflect the engine sizes being produced and encourage different manufacturers.[1][2]
| Category | Motorcycle racing |
|---|---|
| Region | International |
| Inaugural season | 1997 |
| Constructors | Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, MV Agusta, Triumph, Yamaha |
| Tyre suppliers | Pirelli |
| Riders' champion |  Adrián Huertas |
| Makes' champion |  Ducati |
| Teams' champion |  Ten Kate Racing Yamaha |
| Official website | worldsbk.com |
 Current season | |
The championship runs as a support class to the Superbike World Championship, which is similarly based on large production-based sports motorcycles. The championship, organized and promoted as its parent series by FGSport—renamed Infront Motor Sports in 2008[3]—until 2012 and by Dorna from the 2013 season onwards,[4] is sanctioned by the FIM.
Overview
editSupersport was introduced as a support class to the Superbike World Championship in 1990 as a European Championship. The series allows four-cylinder engines up to 600 cubic centimetres (37 cu in), three-cylinder engines up to 675 cubic centimetres (41.2 cu in), and twin-cylinder power plants up to 750 cubic centimetres (46 cu in). In 1997 the championship became a "World Series" and the European title was given to the European Motorcycle Union's European Road Racing Championship. The full title Supersport World Championship was introduced in 1999.[5] Supersport racing has also been one of the most popular classes of national racing for many years.
Competition in the championship is typically fierce, and season domination by a single competitor is unusual. The 2001 championship was particularly notable in this respect, the champion being Andrew Pitt who did not win a single race, but amassed a championship-winning total of points by finishing near the front of the field in almost every race.
Regulations
editTechnical regulations
editThis article needs to be updated. (January 2022) |
In 2012, to be eligible for Supersport World Championship, a motorcycle must satisfy FIM's homologation requirements and have a four-stroke engine in one of the following configurations:[6]
- Between 400 and 600 cubic centimetres (24 and 37 cu in) – 4 cylinders
- Between 600 and 800 cubic centimetres (37 and 49 cu in) – 3 cylinders
- Between 800 and 955 cubic centimetres (48.8 and 58.3 cu in) – 2 cylinders
As of 2023, the homologated motorcycles were Ducati Panigale V2, Honda CBR600RR, Kawasaki ZX-6R, MV Agusta F3 800, Suzuki GSX-R600, Suzuki GSX-R600, Triumph Street Triple 765RS and Yamaha YZF-R6;[7] formerly homologated motorcycles include Bimota YB9, Ducati 748, Ducati 749, Honda CBR600F, MV Agusta F3 675, Triumph Daytona 600, Triumph Daytona 675, and Yamaha YZF600R.[8][9]
Supersport regulations are much tighter than in Superbikes. The chassis of a supersport machine must remain largely as standard, while engine tuning is possible but tightly regulated. For instance, the displacement capacity, bore and stroke must remain at the homologated size. Modifying the bore and stroke to reach class limits is not allowed.[6] As in World Superbike, a control tyre is used. From 2020 onwards, the tyres no longer have to be road legal and therefore slicks are allowed.
Sporting regulations
editA Supersport World Championship race takes place at almost every Superbike World Championship round. Starting positions are decided by the riders' fastest laps from two 45-minute qualifying sessions. Each race is approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) long. Typically, the race takes place between the two Superbike races.
The points system is the same for the riders' championship and the manufacturers' championship, but only the highest-finishing motorcycle by a particular manufacturer is awarded the points for the latter championship.
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 25 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Riders
editRiders from all over the world compete in World Supersport, mostly from Europe.
Several riders who were successful in World Supersport have moved on to high-level competitions, notably, Cal Crutchlow, Chaz Davies, and Chris Vermeulen, though others such as Fabien Foret and Kenan Sofuoğlu have spent several years in this championship. Notable female rider María Herrera entered a few races in World Supersport.
WorldSSP Challenge
editStarting in 2021, the World Supersport Challenge, a separate points-scoring competition was held at the European-rounds of the Supersport World Championship, run as a category within the main races. Previously, it was known as the European Supersport Cup.
In 2021, the title winner was Altogo Racing Yamaha’s Kevin Manfredi, for 2022 it was Bahattin Sofuoglu for factory MV Agusta, and in 2023 Tom Booth-Amos won with the Kawasaki team Motozoo.[10][11][12]
Champions
edit
| Manufacturer | Championships | Year |
|---|---|---|
 Honda
|
10 | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 |
| Yamaha
|
1999, 2000, 2001, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 | |
| Kawasaki
|
3 | 2013, 2015, 2016 |
 Ducati
|
1997, 2023, 2024 | |
| Suzuki
|
2 | 1998, 2002 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ BSB: Series bosses commit to Supersport and GP2 future Motorcycle News, 25 November 2018 Retrieved 30 January 2022
- ^ Triumph to enter factory BritishSSP ‘pilot’ 765 entry, eyes international return visordown.com, 24 November 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2022
- ^ "Infront rebrands leading promoter in motor sport, FGSport, as Infront Motor Sports". infrontsports.com. Infront Sports & Media. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ Sam Tremayne (2 October 2012). "Dorna to organise both World Superbikes and MotoGP from 2013". autosport.com. Haymarket Media Group. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "110th FIM anniversary – Flash Back 1996–1999". fim-live.com. Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. 8 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Road Racing FIM Superbike & Supersport World Championships & FIM Superstock Cup regulations 2012" (PDF). v2-fim-live.com. Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ^ "Listing of FIM Homologated Motorcycles for 2023 (Updated 28 July)". fim-moto.com. Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. 28 Jul 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Superbike/Supersport World Championships: rules, time schedule, wild-card riders in Kyalami, list of homologated motorcycles". fim.ch. Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. 18 March 1999. Archived from the original on 11 October 1999. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "Listing of FIM homologated motorcycles for 2007" (PDF). v2-fim-live.com. Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. 5 April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ FIM WorldSSP Challenge ready to kick off: who is joining the grid from Assen onwards? worldsbk.com, 12 April 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024
- ^ Winners of the WorldSSP Challenge: Booth-Amos and Motozoo speedweek.com, 5 October 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024
- ^ New manufacturer revealed in WorldSBK entry lists visordown.com, 19 December 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024
- ^ "Supersport Champions - Riders". oldsbk.perugiatiming.com. Superbike World Championship. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "Supersport Champions - Manufacturers". oldsbk.perugiatiming.com. Superbike World Championship. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.