With part of the WorldSBK paddock present in Barcelona for the MotoGP race last weekend, the Superbike Commission, the series’ rulemaking body, met at Montmelo to discuss changes to the WorldSBK rules.
Though much of what was agreed in the meeting amounted to a tidying up of the starting procedure, a big talking point was the introduction of a single ECU.
The various members of the Superbike Commission discussed whether a spec-ECU should be introduced for the 2018 season. They did not reach an agreement on the subject at Barcelona, but according to the press release issued by the FIM, they do expect the matter to be settled within the next few weeks.
This suggests that the introduction of a spec-ECU is inevitable. Dorna and the FIM will be pushing hard for this, as the spec-ECU is perceived to have been a success in MotoGP, leveling the playing field between the different factories.
Whether it will be such a success in WorldSBK remains to be proven, as there are many more factors involved in the series, most particularly the fact that the bikes are based on production vehicles, limiting the base from where development begins. Whether that will be addressed at a later date remains to be seen.
Source: WorldSBK
This article was originally published on MotoMatters, and is republished here on Asphalt & Rubber with permission by the author.
Comments