BSB bosses and team managers are to meet at the Oulton Park round to discuss a raft of rule changes for the 2009 season which could include F1-style qualifying to spice up Saturday’s for spectators – although race director Stuart Higgs has ruled out a return to Superpole.
And if they are in agreement, the new qualifying system could be in place for Cadwell Park.
Currently, British Superbikes have a MotoGP-style of practice and qualifying: two free practices on Friday and one free practice and one qualifying session on Saturday. However, BSB owners MotorSport Vision want to make Saturday more exciting for fans.
Higgs said: “The F1 qualifying is something we have been talking about, among other things. Everyone in the paddock wants to make BSB a bigger spectacle but we have to be careful not to do anything too rash, like a return to Superpole, which would be a step backwards. The idea is that a change in the weather would not ruin qualifying as, after each qualifying stage, the times are null and void and we start all over again.”
F1 has a three-stage system where all drivers enter the first phase. After 20 minutes, the slowest seven cars are knocked out and allocated grid postions. The times for those progressing to the second phase are disregarded.
Stage two sees a 15 minute session where the next slowest five cars are allocated their grid slots, times are then wiped from the record and the quickest ten cars go on to the third stage and fight for grid slots from pole to tenth.
Higgs also said other rule changes were on the agenda for discussion, but wouldn’t be drawn on any details.
Here is how Higgs' new system would work:
BSB Qualifying (example between 1400 – 1500 hrs)
14:00 – 14.25 (25 minutes) – "It's important to retain a longish phase one so teams can continue to use for set up purposes and I am keen to ensure that Cup runners and/or those with highest probability of being knocked out early, only in effect lose 25 mins of running time from the current situation," says Higgs.
Phase 1: All riders eligible to take part – subject to achieving satisfactory times during the Free Practices (within 107.5% of the fastest time in at least one session – dispensation may be given).
End of session. Provisional classification - positions 21+ eliminated
14.30 – 14.45 (15 minutes)
Phase 2: Only Riders classified P1 – P20 in Phase 1 eligible to take part
End of session. Provisional classification – positions 11 - 20 eliminated
14.50 – 15.00 (10 minutes)
Phase 3: Riders classified P1 – P10 in Phase 2 eligible to take part
End of session. Final classification: result of Phase 3 P1 – P10, result of Phase 2 P11 – P20, result of Phase 1 P21+
