As in 2024, the World Superbike Championship and World Supersport Championship races at Phillip Island will adopt a flag-to-flag format with mandatory pit stops for tire changes.
The season’s opening round, set for February 21 to 23, takes place at a circuit known for its unique layout and challenging asphalt. As a precaution, the decision to implement this safety measure mirrors last year’s approach after the installation of new asphalt.
Following a detailed analysis, the FIM and Dorna have determined that rear tyres cannot exceed 11 laps in WSBK and 10 laps in WSSP. Consequently, the first and second WSBK races will comprise 20 laps, with riders allocated two additional sets of tyres.
Gregorio Lavilla, WSBK Executive Director, explained in a press release: ‘Phillip Island is renowned for its thrilling, high-speed layout, but it also presents unique challenges due to its surface and rapidly changing weather. Despite improvements to the track conditions over time, it remains extremely demanding, especially if you bear in mind it will be the first round of the season where teams are still fine-tuning their basic set-up. Based on our experience at Phillip Island, we concluded that enforcing a mandatory pit stop is the best approach to uphold the quality of the racing. By adopting this format, we’re ensuring that all participants can compete under fair and secure conditions at what promises to be an exciting start to the season’.