World Superbike sporting director Gregorio Lavilla says that a control ECU system similar to that run in the MCE British Superbike Championship was never considered in the 2015 rule shake-up as it wouldn’t help manufacturers develop their products.

Rumours of a spec-ECU were rife in the paddock as new series technical director Scott Smart was instrumental in BSB’s switch to a control system, but Lavilla said that it was never on the table in WSBK.

“It was never on the table. We have nine manufacturers in Superbike and they are here to develop their product to sell so priority number one was to make a correlation between what is racing here and what they are selling,” said Lavilla, speaking to bikesportnews.com at Portimao.

“We need to allow them to do their business, which is to test systems in racing. A control ECU is very good for the show and to make a balance, and it would make our job much easier, but it was never an option for production bikes.

“We don’t want to stop development, that is the nature of racing, everyone here is trying to make something better but we needed to do it in a way that the price is controlled and it is available to everyone because the show is important and everyone should have a chance to be successful.”