Difference between revisions of "World Superbike championship"

Europe is Superbike World Championship's traditional centre and leading market.<ref name="revival">[http://www.crash.net/feature_view~cid~5~id~6435.htm 2005 to mark WSBK revival?] crash.net retrieved on September 11, 2007</ref> However, rounds are also held in Qatar, Australia, South Africa, and the United States (in 2008}, for the first time since 2004).<ref name="USA">[http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~5~id~153296.htm WSBK to USA.] crash.net retrieved on September 11, 2007</ref> An Indonesian race was also proposed for the 2008 season, but this was later canceled by the FIM.<ref name=Indonesia>{{cite web |url=http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wsbk/news/160434-0/sentul_bites_the_dust.html |title=Sentul bites the dust. |accessdate=2008-03-08}}</ref>

In 2003 the FIM changed the rules to allow 1000&nbsp;cc machines (either twins, triples or four-cylinder) to race. Rule changes in [[MotoGP]] to allow [[4-stroke]] engines meant that the Japanese manufacturers focused their resources there, leaving the Superbike World Championship with limited factory involvement<ref name="1000ccSBK">[http://www.motorcycledaily.com/26jan011000ccsuperbikes.html 1000&nbsp;cc Superbikes May Save World Championship] motorcycledaily.com retrieved on September 13, 2007</ref> (only Ducati and Suzuki).

2003 also saw the entry of [[Carl Fogarty]]’s Foggy [[Petronas]] FP1. The bike was developed under the previous regulations and was powered by a [[3 cylinder]] 900[[cc]] engine. With most of the field running Ducati motorcycles, the championship received the derogatory title "the Ducati Cup".<ref name="rules2"/><ref name="rules">[http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/worldsuperbike/24961/ World Superbike: Time for More Rule Tweaking? (Part 1)] speedtv.com retrieved on September 11, 2007</ref> The factory Ducati Team entered the only 2 Ducati 999's 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 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 {{SBK|2004}} the teams have had to run on [[Pirelli]] control or 'spec' tires. The decision to award the control tire to [[Pirelli]] was controversial. The [[Pirelli]] tires were considered to be below the standard of [[Dunlop Tires|Dunlop]] and [[Michelin]] that most of the teams had been using. Dunlop looked to take legal action against the decision<ref name="Dunlop">[http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~5~id~72727.htm Dunlop plans legal action over rule changes.] crash.net retrieved on September 11, 2007</ref> while Pirelli claimed that Michelin and Dunlop were also asked if they would be interested in the one-make tire rule contract.<ref name="Pirelli">[http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~5~id~103060.htm Pirelli: All the manufacturers were approached.] crash.net retrieved on September 11, 2007</ref>

Following Ten Kate Honda's success Japanese motorcycles made him a return in {{SBK|2005}} with major teams from all four Japanese manufacturers run through teams ran by European importers.<ref name="rules"/> [[Troy Corser]] won the 2005 championship, giving Suzuki its first Superbike World Championship title.