Glossary

  • AGE
  • The minimum age for participants in a Motul FIM Superbike World Championship & FIM Supersport World Championship race is 18. The maximum age for both categories is 50. For the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship, the minimum age to participate is 16.
  • BRIEFING
  • A meeting of sporting or technical character, generally called by Race Direction, involving riders and/or team managers.
  • CLERK OF THE COURSE
  • The person responsible for ensuring that the circuit is properly prepared for the race and that all the marshals are at their posts.
  • DORNA WorldSBK Organization
  • Since from 2013, the Company that organise and promote the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship.
  • ENTRY
  • Registration for a race. An "Entry List" is published before each race and lists all the riders who have registered to take part, together with the names of their teams, and the type of motorcycle they will be riding.
  • FIM or F.I.M.
  • Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (International Motorcycling Federation), the coordinating body for international motorcycle racing.
  • FIM STEWARD
  • The persons responsible for enforcing the Rules, and for reporting infringements to the Race Direction.
  • FREE PRACTICE
  • Practice sessions held on Friday and Saturday morning. Depending on the class, the duration of each session varies. WorldSBK will have two free practice sessions on Friday consisting of 45 minutes each. WorldSSP will have two 45-minute sessions while WorldSSP300 will have 30 minutes available per session on Friday. WorldSBK will have a 30-minute session on Saturday as their third practice session while both WorldSSP and WorldSSP300 will have a 20-minute session. Lap times from free practices do not count towards setting the grid.
  • INTERNATIONAL JURY
  • A jury made up of a President and two Members appointed by the FIM, plus other delegates (the Delegate appointed by DWO, the Race Director, the Technical Director, the Medical Director, the Clerk of the Course, the FIM Safety Officer),responsible for ensuring that the race is run according to the Rules, and for reporting any infringements to the Race Direction. The jury decides issues by voting, with each member having one vote.
  • JUMP-START
  • Occurs when a rider starts before the starting lights change. Incurs a penalty.
  • LAP CHART
  • The document drawn up by the timing personnel at the end of the race, showing the positions of each rider at the end of each lap.
  • LIGHTS
  • Used to signal the start of the race. Lights are also installed at the exit from the pit lane to tell riders whether it is safe to re-enter the circuit or not.
  • LONG LAP PENALTY
  • The Long Lap Penalty is a new introduction to WorldSBK and is available as a penalty to the WorldSBK stewards for infringements that are deemed to be punishable. Available at selected rounds and circuits, a rider who is given a Long Lap Penalty will have to ride through a section of track, outlined clearly, that extends the length of the lap for that rider.
  • MARSHALS
  • The persons responsible for signalling to the riders, by means of special flags, and also for assisting them if they come off the track.
  • PADDOCK
  • The area behind the pits where the various teams park their motor homes and trucks.
  • PADDOCK SHOW ARENA
  • The area in the paddock dedicated to riders’ on-stage attendance, events and entertaining activities, from Thursday to Sunday, all open to the public, as per the typical proximity feeling that WorldSBK fans can experience with their heroes.
  • PIT LANE
  • The lane that runs alongside a part of the circuit and where the point from which the riders first take to the track is located. Teams occupy the pit lane garages on the internal side of this lane to work on their bikes.
  • PIT WALK
  • Entry to the pit lane. A privilege restricted to pass holders, who are permitted to visit the pit lane at times when the riders are not busy with practice or racing.
  • POLE POSITION
  • The first position on the starting grid.
  • PRIVATE TESTS LIMIT
  • A new introduction to WorldSBK is a limit on the number of private test days a team can use. From the end of one season to the completion of the next, teams will only be able to utilize 10 days of private testing. Tests are also prohibited at a circuit on the WorldSBK calendar in the 11 days leading up to first practice of the round. The 10 days of testing does not include any Official or Supported test. Teams will need to inform Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) about their testing, where DWO will inform the team whether it counts as a full or half day.
  • PROTEST
  • The means by which a team can contest the result achieved by a rider from a rival team, generally on the basis of technical or sporting considerations.
  • RACE DIRECTION
  • The managerial body of a race, made up of one representative of the FIM, one representative of Dorna WorldSBK. It is the responsibility of Race Direction to penalise teams or riders if they infringe the rules; to penalise the race organisers if they fail to ensure proper and efficient organisation for the event; also to hear appeals against penalties imposed for infringements of the Rules.
  • RACE DIRECTOR
  • The person responsible for ensuring that the Rules are respected, and for ensuring that practice sessions and the race itself run smoothly.
  • RACING CLASSES
  • The Motul FIM Superbike World Championship is split up into various classes in order to encourage fierce competition between a selection of manufacturers and riders of various age groups. However, the overall concept has been the same since the inauguration of WorldSBK in 1988: competitors racing production-based machines that fans can easily relate to their road models.
  • WorldSBK
    WorldSBKs class leading category features production-based racing motorcycles. In comparison with standard road models, a World Superbike machine is allowed certain modifications: Engine management, exhaust system, suspension, brakes and a number of engine parts. The bike must weight a minimum of 168kg, with power ranging between 750cc and 1200cc, depending on the number of cylinders the engine contains. Since limited technical modifications were introduced for 2015, tuning bikes, is now subject to more limitations than in previous years.
  • WorldSSP
    The World Supersport class features mid-range machines. These bikes are smaller, lighter and less powerful than their World Superbike counterparts and fewer modifications are allowed. The Next Generation ruleset has opened the class up to more bikes, with different displacements and cylinders balanced out in performance. The WorldSSP class produces some amazing on-track battles and is vitally important to manufacturers too.
  • WorldSSP300
    World Supersport 300 is a feeder class which has been introduced for the first time in 2017. With a minimum rider age of 15, it features a range of lightweight sport bikes and is an easily accessible championship on the world stage. With a jam-packed grid, it is another fiercely contested class. It features any motorcycle classed as an A2 machine on the road in Europe (excluding A1 class machines). All bikes are homologated by motorcycle racing governing body the FIM and are subject to modifications to weight and rev limits by the SBK Commission, in order to ensure the maximum possible parity.
  • WorldWCR
    The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship was introduced for 2024 to promote women in motorcycle racing. Running the Yamaha R7 machines, the Championship in its inaugural season runs alongside WorldSBK events, giving a huge platform to the competitors. A level playing field for everyone is ensured by a single technical partner, and the Championship has a minimum age of 18 years old.
  • RIDE THROUGH
  • An enforced ride through the pit lane at a reduced speed during a race. Used as a penalty for riders who infringe the rules. Riding through the pit lane at a reduced speed (60 km/h) greatly increases lap time compared to a normal track lap.
  • SIGHTING LAP
  • The lap that riders complete from the pit lane to the starting grid to get their position before the race start.
  • SINGLE TYRE SUPPLIER
  • Since 2004, the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship has been run with only one tyre supplier. This decision was made to achieve a dramatic drop in costs and guarantee a specific product development.
  • STARTING GRID
  • The grid on which riders have to line up to start the race. In all MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship categories, the starting grid is made up of three riders per row. The riders on each row are arranged at intervals, with the fastest in front. Each row is separated by a gap of nine metres.
    In the WorldSBK class positions for race one is determined by the Tissot Superpole results, whereas in race two positions are determined on Tissot Superpole Race results. The top nine riders in the Tissot Superpole Race will make up the front three rows on the grid.
    In both WorldSSP and WorldSSP300, the results of the Tissot Superpole session will make up the order of the grid for both races.
  • TECHNICAL CHECKS
  • Checks performed on the bikes to ensure that they comply with Technical Rules.
  • TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
  • The person responsible for ensuring that all participants observe the Technical Rules; also supervises technical inspections and decides on technical protests.
  • TEST RESTRICTIONS
  • Test restriction period for both the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and the FIM Supersport World Championship teams and riders from 21st December until 4th January (both dates inclusive).
  • TISSOT-SUPERPOLE
  • Qualifying session in which lap times count towards determining starting grid positions. For WorldSBK the Tissot Superpole will determine the starting grid positions for Race 1, Tissot Superpole Race and the positions of Race 2’s starting grid from 10th onwards. The first nine positions will be determined by the Superpole Race results. For WorldSSP and WorldSSP300, the results of Tissot Superpole will determine the order of the starting grid.
  • TISSOT SUPERPOLE RACE
  • Offering even more on-track action, the Tissot Superpole Race will be added to Sunday’s program for 2019 becoming the first SBK® race of the day. Set on an all-new Sprint Race format the Tissot Superpole Race will consist of 10 laps (throughout duration of the season). The final results of Saturday’s qualifying session will decide the grid for Sunday’s Sprint Race.
    The TISSOT Superpole Race results will determine the first nine positions of WorldSBK Race Two starting grid, while from 10th onwards will be the positions from Tissot Superpole. Points will be added to the overall championship standings and awarded in the Tissot Superpole Race as follow: 12/9/7/6/5/4/3/2/1.
  • WARM UP
  • The test session held in the morning of the race day to ensure that bikes are set up ready for the race itself.
  • WARM UP LAP
  • The lap that riders complete before returning to their positions on the starting grid ready for the actual start of the race.
  • WILD CARD
  • Rider permitted to take part in a specific championship race meeting. Each Event host Federation may nominate 2 wildcard entries for each class. DWO can nominate further “one event” riders.
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