The World Superbike Championship has introduced a number of changes to its rules this year, with one clearly coming to light that has a very direct effect on… Álvaro Bautista. The two-time (consecutive) world champion spoke about the issue again and reaffirmed his view that, for him, it’s an unfair rule.
Speaking to Sport.es and quoted by Motosan, the 39-year-old spoke about the issue and how this change to the regulations came about because of ‘complaints’ from competitors: ‘The rule was created because of complaints from all the riders on the grid, who are bigger, but I don’t think it’s fair. There are two or three riders on the grid who have to put on more weight, and I’m the one who has to put on more weight’, he began, before explaining how it affects him directly:
– With these bikes, with so much weight and power, being small and light, I have more disadvantages. I weigh 67kg and between the suit and the ballast there are 13kg. I’ve gained weight and, honestly, to be at my best, I don’t need it.
It’s worth remembering that the minimum weight has been set at 80kg, with riders below this reference weight having to add 0,5kg for every kilo less, up to a maximum of 10kg.