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45-455: At the end of 2023 , the team officially left Grand Prix motorcycle racing as a whole. 2001 The year saw the arrival of new title sponsor in West cigarettes , replacing Emerson Electronics after just one year. Both Barros and Capirossi remained in the team with the factory-spec NSR500 in the year where 990cc four-stroke machinery made their debut in the top class. [1] West Honda Pons had

90-643: A Ducati 999 . Though 999 production ended in 2006 and the bike was replaced by the Ducati 1098 , Ducati produced 150 limited-edition 999s at an elevated race specification to satisfy homologation requirements. Bayliss' main rivals in his title defense included former MotoGP rider Max Biaggi riding a Suzuki, 2004 champion James Toseland riding a Honda and Noriyuki Haga riding a Yamaha. The combination of some uneventful races in MotoGP and some exciting races in SBK saw

135-452: A Teams World Championship. The motorcycles that race in the championship are tuned versions of motorcycles available for sale to the public, by contrast with MotoGP where purpose built machines are used. MotoGP is the motorcycle world's equivalent of Formula One , whereas Superbike racing is similar to sports car racing . Europe is Superbike World Championship's traditional centre and leading market. However, rounds have been held in

180-413: A factory Ducati. In an effort to create a more competitive field in 2004 organizers announced a series of changes to the championship. The most significant was that from 2004 the teams have had to run on Pirelli control or 'spec' tyres. The decision to award the control tyre to Pirelli was controversial. The Pirelli tyres were considered to be below the standard of Dunlop and Michelin that most of

225-612: A point. Marco Melandri won more races than both Biaggi and Sykes this season but failing to score points in 5 of the last 6 races cost him the title. The season saw the number of riders per row on the starting grid reduced from four to three; the knockout system in use for Superpole was revised as the number of riders admitted to the first and to the third session changed from sixteen to fifteen and from eight to nine respectively. In addition, pit stops with tyre changes were introduced in order to avoid races to be interrupted due to variable weather conditions. Kawasaki rider Tom Sykes

270-537: A race 2 crash for Bayliss at Assen ) Edwards won the championship at the final race of the season at Imola . The final race of the season saw both riders fighting wheel to wheel for the entire race. The race is known by fans as the "Showdown at Imola". The manufacturer's championship was won by Ducati . During these years the Superbike World Championship reached the zenith of its popularity, with global fan and full factory support. In 2003

315-441: A record 11 poles in the 14 round series and 14 wins (17 podiums) in 28 races; his main rival Haga was more consistent, finishing on the podium 19 times but winning only 8 races. 2009 also saw the debut of BMW and the return of Aprilia . Aprilia took a fourth final place in the championship with Max Biaggi , while BMW finished thirteenth with Troy Corser . 2009 Champion Ben Spies moved to MotoGP . James Toseland returned to

360-423: A road-going 1,000 cc V-twin superbike and that the level of tuning now needed to make their 999 competitive on the race track was too expensive. Ducati said they would quit if the rules were not changed, while Alstare Suzuki team boss Francis Batta also said that his team would quit if the new rules gave Ducati an unfair advantage. The FIM eventually included the 1,200 cc displacement limit for twins in

405-644: A solid season with the 500cc bikes where Barros scored two consecutive podiums in Assen and Donington Park, while Capirossi finished third in Welkom before suffered wrist injury in Assen. German Alex Hofmann filled Capirossi's seat in Donington and Sachsenring, finished 10th in his home race. [2] Alex Barros was given the four-stroke RC211V in the last four races of the season, the decision which paid off by finished in top three in those four races, two of them being

450-490: A victory in Motegi and Valencia, ended the season in fourth place, eleven points behind second placed Max Biaggi. Capirossi scored another podium in Motegi, finished eighth in the final standings. At the end of the season both riders left Honda Pons, along with title sponsor West . Honda Pons entered a new chapter in team's history, with R. J. Reynolds 's Camel cigarettes became team's title sponsor. [3] Max Biaggi joined

495-566: Is a silhouette road racing series based on heavily modified production sports motorcycles . The championship was founded in 1988 . The Superbike World Championship consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities. Each round has two full length races and, from 2019, an additional ten-lap sprint race known as the Superpole race. The results of all three races are combined to determine three annual World Championships, one for riders , one for manufacturers and, as of 2024,

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540-481: The 2008 superbike rules. According to the new rules, twin-cylinder motorcycles would be 6 kg heavier than four-cylinder machines (168 kg to 162 kg) and would also have a 50 mm air restrictor fitted. The weight limit and the intake-restrictor size of twin machines would be updated, if needed, during the Championship, by a system analysing the race points obtained. The new rules also changed

585-468: The Magny-Cours Race 1. His victory gave him an unassailable lead with five races remaining. The season was marred by the death of Honda rider and former MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden , who succumbed to injuries sustained in a pedal-cycling accident near Rimini , Italy, on 22 May. Jonathan Rea won his fourth Superbike world title for Kawasaki. 2018 was the final season run with

630-562: The FIM changed the rules to allow 1,000 cc machines (twins, triples or four-cylinder) to race. Rule changes in MotoGP to allow four-stroke engines meant that the Japanese manufacturers focused their resources there, leaving the Superbike World Championship with limited factory involvement (only Ducati and Suzuki). 2003 also saw the entry of Carl Fogarty ’s Foggy Petronas FP1. The bike

675-464: The Superbike World Championship after three years in MotoGP . The combination of Bayliss and Ducati proved unstoppable and they dominated the season, winning 12 races. Honda-mounted James Toseland and Yamaha's Noriyuki Haga battled for second with the British rider coming out on top. Defending champion Troy Corser on a Suzuki was fourth. 2006 gave the feeling that the Superbike World Championship

720-585: The Superpole Race were determined by a single 25-minute Superpole Qualifying session. The grid for Race 2 featured the top nine riders in the Superpole Race in the order in which they finished followed by the remaining riders sorted by their Superpole Qualifying times. Jonathan Rea won his fifth Superbike world title for Kawasaki. In a season shortened by the Covid pandemic, Jonathan Rea won his sixth Superbike world title for Kawasaki. The championship

765-571: The United States, Malaysia , New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Argentina, Australia, Russia, Qatar , Thailand, and South Africa and the series plans on keeping extra-European circuits in rotation. An Indonesian race was also proposed for the 2008 season, but this was later cancelled by the FIM, though it was later introduced in the 2021 season . The championship is regulated by the FIM , the international governing body of motorcycle racing. As of 2024

810-508: The championship after 2 seasons in MotoGP and took Spies place at the Sterilgarda Yamaha World Superbike team, partnered by fellow Brit Cal Crutchlow . The factory Ducati team retained their two riders. The 2010 season started on February 28 at Phillip Island and ended on October 3 at Magny-Cours . The knockout system introduced for Superpole in 2009 was revised as the number of riders admitted to

855-445: The championship is organised by Dorna as well as Liberty Media . The Superbike World Championship began in 1988 , being open to modified versions of road bike models available to the public. For many years, the formula allowed for machines with 1,000 cc V-twin engines (principally Ducati , but later Aprilia and Honda ) to go up against the 750 cc four-cylinder engines ( Honda , Yamaha , Kawasaki and Suzuki ). For

900-526: The championship's popularity increase even more. The championship was won by James Toseland in the season's last race. His 415 points put him two points ahead of Noriyuki Haga, with former MotoGP winner Max Biaggi following with 397 points on a Suzuki. After introducing the Ducati 1098 in 2007 powered by a 1,099 cc v-twin engine Ducati requested that Superbike rules be changed to allow v-twins of up to 1,200 cc compete against 1,000 cc four-cylinder bikes. Ducati argued that they no longer produced

945-560: The first few seasons Honda won with the RC30 , but gradually the twins got the upper hand. Using 1,000 cc V-twin engines benefited Ducati and it was able to dominate the championship for many years, but the 750 cc was second or third each year between 1994 and 1999. Held under the FIM , the Formula TT from 1977 to 1989 once constituted the official motorcycle World Cup. Having proven itself both popular and commercially viable, it

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990-406: The first race of the last round at Losail , while Kawasaki had secured the manufacturers' title at the previous event at Jerez . Chaz Davies won the most races this season with Davies winning 11 races to Rea's 9. After changes in the standard weekend timetable, the first race, which was previously run on Sunday along with the second one, was scheduled to be held on Saturday. The season saw

1035-422: The first two sessions was reduced from twenty to sixteen and from sixteen to twelve respectively. Ducati no longer competed with a factory team in 2011, after 23 seasons which had brought the marque a total of 29 riders' and manufacturers' championship titles, instead limiting its participation to privateer teams running their works bikes. Aprilia 's gear-driven camshafts on its RSV4 motorcycle – which won

1080-471: The lease of one of the RC211V and signed Stoner. Tuenti Móvil HP 40 Paginas Amarillas HP 40 * Season still in progress. 2018   Red Bull KTM Ajo 2019   Flexbox HP40 2020   Sky Racing Team VR46 2021   Red Bull KTM Ajo 2022   Red Bull KTM Ajo 2023   Red Bull KTM Ajo 2023 Moto2 World Championship The 2023 FIM Moto2 World Championship

1125-602: The minimum number of bikes required to acquire homologation . For 2008 and 2009, all manufacturers, regardless of total production numbers, had to produce a minimum of 1,000 bikes to acquire homologation. From 2010 onwards, the minimum production number was increased to 3,000 bikes. In the past, smaller manufacturers were allowed to build as few as 150 bikes to meet the homologation requirements. Manufacturers took advantage of this by producing 'homologation specials'--highly tuned versions of their road bikes with performance parts designed especially for racing. The 2008 SBK championship

1170-558: The race. Camel Honda then won two races in a row in Brazil and Germany courtesy of Tamada and Biaggi respectively, with Tamada's victory was the first for Bridgestone in MotoGP. Tamada scored another win in Motegi en route to sixth place in the standings, while Biaggi ended the year in the same way he finished 2003, in third place. The agreement with Pramac ended as the company switched to D'Antin Racing as title sponsor, while Camel remained in

1215-428: The remainder of the season. Both Barros and Bayliss moved to Superbike World Championship at the end of the season Pons signed Carlos Checa and Australian rookie Casey Stoner for the 2006 season. However, the team lost their title sponsor Camel , who moved to Yamaha, forcing the team to withdraw from MotoGP after 25 seasons in the sport. Checa ended up moved to Tech 3, while Lucio Cecchinello 's LCR Team secured

1260-517: The revision of the starting grid format for the second race, which was previously based on qualifying results for both races: riders placed from fourth to ninth in Race 1 were promoted to the first two rows for Race 2; then the third, the second and the winner followed on the third row; the remaining riders were sorted from the tenth grid slot onwards according to Superpole results. Jonathan Rea won his third Superbike world title for Kawasaki, by winning

1305-532: The superbike racing formula more, Honda introduced its own V-Twin powered motorcycle the VTR1000 SPW in 2000 . The result was clear right away as Colin Edwards won the championship in the bike's first year of competition. Ducati regained the title in 2001 with Troy Bayliss . Colin Edwards again reclaimed the title in 2002 on the same VTR1000 SPW bike. Colin Edwards won his second championship in what

1350-525: The team from factory Yamaha team, while HRC moved Tohru Ukawa from Repsol Honda. Both riders rode the customer-spec RC211V . Biaggi won 2 races in Donington Park (After Rossi got 10-seconds time penalty for yellow flag infringement) and Motegi en route to third place in the standings, while Ukawa ended the season in eight place before demoted to factory testing role with Honda, ended his full time Grand Prix career. [4] Max Biaggi remained in

1395-523: The team, joined by Makoto Tamada as Pons and Pramac Racing collaborate as one team. Due to the agreement, Tamada raced with Bridgestone tires, while Biaggi remained with Michelin . The team's technical director Antonio Cobas died in Barcelona just days before the opening round in South Africa . [5] Max Biaggi finished the race in second place after battled with Valentino Rossi throughout

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1440-548: The team. Alex Barros returned to the team after spending the last two seasons with Tech3 and Repsol Honda respectively, along with Troy Bayliss who left Ducati. Barros winning in Portugal along with 11 top-10 finishes, finished 8th in the standings. Bayliss scored 5 top-10 finishes in 11 races, however his season was cut short when he injured his wrist in a motocross accident. [6] Tohru Ukawa , Shane Byrne , Chris Vermeulen and Ryuichi Kiyonari filled Bayliss's seat for

1485-649: The teams had been using. Dunlop looked to take legal action against the decision while Pirelli claimed that Michelin and Dunlop were also asked if they would be interested in the one-make tyre rule contract. Partly as a result of the control tyres, Motorcycle Sports Manufacturer Association (Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha) announced that no MSMA teams would participate in the Superbike World Championship, later modifying their statement allowing Ducati to participate. A few privateers chose to run Japanese bikes in 2004 . Ten Kate Honda with Chris Vermeulen as its rider, won races and actually contended for

1530-624: The ten fastest riders of practice. Aprilia's Sylvain Guintoli became the Superbike World Champion at the last race, prevailing over Tom Sykes by six points in the standings. But both Marco Melandri and Tom Sykes won more races than Sylvain Guintoli this season. With Sykes winning 8 and Melandri 6 compared to Guintoli's 5. Jonathan Rea became 2015 World Superbike Champion riding a Kawasaki. Jonathan Rea won his second consecutive Superbike World Championship title at

1575-496: The title in 2010 with Max Biaggi – was banned for the 2011 season. After a dominating since season opening, Carlos Checa won his first championship and Ducati's 17th manufacturer title. The season saw the number of complete motorcycles in use limited to one per rider; this meant that the rules allowing bike changes during a race ( flag-to-flag ) were cancelled. Aprilia rider Max Biaggi clinched his second SBK championship, pipping Kawasaki rider Tom Sykes by just half

1620-406: The title that eventually was won by James Toseland and Ducati. Following Ten Kate Honda's success Japanese motorcycles made a return in 2005 with major teams from all four Japanese manufacturers run through teams ran by European importers. Troy Corser won the 2005 championship, giving Suzuki its first Superbike World Championship title. 2006 saw the return of Australian Troy Bayliss to

1665-436: The top fifteen finishers. A rider had to finish the race to earn points. Each constructor was awarded the same number of points as their best placed rider in each race. The teams' standings were based on results obtained by regular and substitute riders; wild-card entries were ineligible. Superbike World Championship Superbike World Championship (also known as WorldSBK , SBK , World Superbike , WSB , or WSBK )

1710-465: The two-race format, as a three-race format was introduced for 2019. A new race format was introduced for the 2019 season. As in 2018 , two normal length races (Race 1 and Race 2) were held – one each on Saturday and Sunday (Friday and Saturday in Qatar). A third race, a ten lap sprint named the Superpole Race, was held on the final morning of the weekend prior to Race 2. The starting grids for Race 1 and

1755-590: Was 'back' following the years of decline in 2003 and 2004 . With MotoGP machines reduced in capacity from 990 cc to an 800 cc maximum displacement, 1,000 cc Superbikes, both at World Championship and top national championships ( AMA Superbike and British Superbike ) become the largest capacity bikes (but not the most powerful) being road raced in 2007 . While superbikes remained two or more seconds per lap slower than MotoGP bikes at most tracks where both raced, they had equal or more power. Troy Bayliss attempted to defend his title, riding once again

1800-407: Was arguably the most impressive comeback in the history of motorcycle racing. The season started with Troy Bayliss winning the first 6 races and by the end of race 1 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca he had 14 wins and was leading the championship by 58 points. Race 2 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was the start of Colin Edwards ' comeback, he went on to win all 9 remaining races and (aided by

1845-478: Was crowned champion after obtaining the third-place finish he needed to secure the title victory at Jerez. The season saw the revision of the Superpole format: riders placed from eleventh to twentieth position in the combined classification of the first three practice sessions were admitted to Superpole 1, then the two fastest SP1 riders progressed to Superpole 2, which finally awarded the pole position , joining

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1890-482: Was decided by the end of the 1990 season to end the Formula TT and the Superbike World Championship would succeed it. From 1993 to 1999 Carl Fogarty and Ducati dominated, Fogarty won the title a record four times and finished as runner-up twice on factory Ducatis. Troy Corser also won the 1996 title and finished as runner-up in 1995, both times on a Ducati. Realizing that 1,000 cc V-twin engines suited

1935-459: Was developed under the previous regulations and was powered by a three cylinder 900 cc engine. With most of the field running Ducati motorcycles, the championship received the derogatory title "the Ducati Cup". The factory Ducati Team entered the only two Ducati 999s in the field, taking 20 wins from 24 races in a season where all races were won by Ducati. Neil Hodgson won the title on

1980-460: Was dominated by Troy Bayliss of Australia, on his Ducati 1098, who concluded his season and his career with a double win at the brand new, 195-million-Euro Portimao circuit in Portugal, after which he retired. During the offseason, Yamaha lost Noriyuki Haga to Ducati , who signed him to replace the retired Troy Bayliss . His place was taken by 3-times AMA champion Ben Spies , who was expected to give Haga serious competition. Ben Spies took

2025-568: Was part of the 75th FIM Road Racing World Championship season. Pedro Acosta won the championship with two races to spare after finishing second at the Malaysian round in Sepang , riding for Red Bull KTM Ajo . All teams used series-specified Dunlop tyres and Triumph 765cc 3-cylinder engines . The minimum age to have a license for Moto2 was raised to 18 years old. The following Grands Prix took place in 2023: Points were awarded to

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