2009 FIM Endurance World Championship FIM Meetings with organisers and team managers Meetings were held by the FIM with the organisers of all the events mentioned in the calendar below on December 4, and with 23 teams present or represented, interested in taking part in the 2009 season on December 5 at the Ramada Hotel in Geneva. The FIM will maintain the same system of permanent teams. The maximum number of permanent teams admitted for 2009 will be 20, and the list will be published early January. The permanent teams commit themselves to take part in all rounds of the World Championship, except to the Suzuka Eight Hours whose participation in it will be facultative for cost reasons. The full Endurance World Championship Regulations with all modifications will be available on the FIM website. See the main changes below. Regarding the calendar, the 8 Hours of Oschersleben will be held on Sunday 31 May (with finish at night the Monday 1st June is holiday in Germany). The round in Albacete, on July 4, will be of 8 Hours (instead of 6). The 8 Hours of Doha will take place on Saturday 14 November (instead of 7 November). Endurance World Championship and World Cup Regulations Practice schedule – Races taking place partly at night: night practice, minimum 1 hour. Qualification “Superpole” A Superpole qualification system will be put in place for the fastest 10 teams of the qualifying practices. This additional stage would take place on the day prior to the race. This stage will be run under dry conditions only. Start procedure “¦the riders will make two laps, at unrestricted speed, followed by a safety car or a medical car Riders who change machine will be penalised with 2 stops & go. Behaviour during practices and race “¦lights allowed to be installed by the teams on the signalling platform may not be flashing and cannot be red. Provisional 2009 Endurance World Championship Schedule Dates Track Country Event 4/18-19 Le Mans, France (24 hours) 5/31 Oschersleben, Germany (8 hours) 7/4 Albacete, Spain (8 hours) 7/26 Suzuka, Japan (8 hours) 9/12-13 Magny Cours, France (Bol d’Or 24 hours) 11/14 Losail International Circuit, Qatar (8 hours)