British Superbike Championship commercial rights holders MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR) and sanctioning body Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board (MCRCB) have decided to raise the minimum weight limit of 1200cc Twins competing in the 2008 British Superbike Championship effective immediately. A May 19 announcement on the official British Superbike Championship website reads, in part: “It was agreed for the 2008 BSB regulations that twin cylinder machines may have a higher 1200cc capacity to compensate for their lower maximum rpm potential compared with the 1000cc four cylinder machines. It was understood by all parties that this differentiation would be subject to periodic review and that if significant disparity was believed to exist a mechanism would be employed to balance inherent performance. “After carrying out a detailed review of the performance of the twin cylinder and four cylinder machines over the first three 2008 BSB events, MCRCB consider the twin cylinder machines have enjoyed a competitive advantage and has authorised the modification of the minimum 165kg [363.8 pounds] weight limit regulation for both twin and four cylinder machines by applying an increased new minimum weight limit of 175kg [385.8 pounds] for twin cylinder 1200cc motorcycles.” So far in the 2008 British Superbike Championship Ducati 1098 riders have won four of six races, have taken 11 of 18 possible podium positions and hold three of the top four positions in the Championship, including the Championship point lead. Today, GSE Racing/Airwaves Ducati, which holds the first and third positions in the Championship points standings with point leader Shane Byrne and third-in-points Leon Camier, issued a rebuttal via its website, which reads: GSE Racing has expressed their deep disappointment, and frustration, after the sudden announcement by the MSVR/MCRCB to alter the technical regulations to the Superbike class in this year’s British Superbike Championship. The rule change which increases the minimum weight of the twin cylinder Superbike by 10kg to 175kg has in the opinion of GSE Racing been made without any supporting performance related reason or prior consultation with the team, which in their opinion is another clear demonstration of the lack of communication between the race organisers and teams. Team Principal Darrell Healey said: “I am absolutely astounded that the changes have been introduced after only three race meetings and four days before the next event at Donington Park. We, as a team, have spent tens of thousands of pounds testing and developing the 1098R based on what we thought were fixed regulations, but it is now clear that under Article A5 MSVR/MCRCB can clearly change the rules as and when they please! This is not a situation that either the team or I are comfortable with, and whilst little can be done for this year, I would certainly require absolute clarity on a fixed set of technical rules if we were to compete in any future British Superbike Championships.” “The bottom line is that we do not have the most competitive race bike performance wise, and that is clear for everybody to see, but both of our riders have been consistent over the first six races and that is why Shane leads the championship. Similarly, had our competitors achieved consistent race finishes, our lead would most probably be less than 5 points, which begs the question as to whether the organisers would have reached the same conclusion!” “However, the real joke here is that last October, we, on behalf of Ducati, requested the use of non-production pistons on safety grounds to use in this years BSB Championship, and that request was completely thrown out by ALL the teams racing four cylinder motorcycles. Now, just over six months later, those same teams are demanding rule changes to allow non-standard engine parts to be fitted on safety grounds! I would suggest that their time would be better spent concentrating on producing fast, but reliable race bikes, rather than constantly whingeing to the race organisers to vary the technical rules.” GSE Racing are currently in discussions with Ducati to ascertain whether it is possible to introduce the extra weight safely to the 1098R, however with WSBK rules requiring only a maximum penalty of 5kg, (subject to the pre-agreed point penalty system) this additional 10kg scenario is completely untested and as such it is unlikely that a safe solution will be found prior to the next meeting at Donington Park this weekend, in which case GSE Racing would have no alternative but to withdraw from the event on safety grounds. The fourth round of the British Superbike Championship takes place this weekend at Donington Park.