The Superbike World Championship series has dropped its controversial performance balancing rev limits for the 2025 season and will instead rely on fuel flow restrictions, minimum combined rider/machine weights, concessions, and super-concessions to try to level performance.
The 2025 rulebook, just published by the FIM, replaces the 2024 rulebook’s table of rev limits for each motorcycle homologated for competition with the following language:
2.4.2.3 Rev limit
The Maximum rev limit is not limited
Different maximum rev limits for different machines were introduced for the 2018 season as a way of balancing the performance across different engine configurations. Kawasaki, which had dominated the series for several years, was extremely unhappy with the new rules but went along with them. On its website, WorldSBK stated that for 2018, “Aprilia, BMW, MV Agusta and Yamaha will start the season with 14700 rpm, Honda with 14300, Kawasaki with 14100 and Ducati with 12400 (due to their two-cylinder engine).”
The subsequent years have seen significant debate over the rule, as some brands were more restricted than others and were clearly slower in a straight line. Among the models competing in the series in 2024, the Kawasaki ZX-10RR was restricted to 15,100 rpm, while the Ducati Panigale V4 R was allowed to rev to 16,100.
Roadracing World has reached out to World Superbike officials for comment and will update this story as more information becomes available.
