The WorldSBK championship announces the retention of mandatory pit stops for the 2025 season opener at Phillip Island.
This decision stems from safety concerns regarding the unpredictable weather and track temperatures on the weekend of the first round, which will take place from February 21st to 23rd.
Dorna and the FIM disclose that rear tyres must not exceed 11 laps for WorldSBK and 10 for WorldSSP races.
These changes mean WorldSBK Race 1 and Race 2 race distances are set at 20 laps. Riders will be allocated two additional sets for the weekend.
A similar approach was implemented for the 2024 season opener following the work done to the track’s resurface.
WorldSBK Executive Director Gregorio Lavilla announced: “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.”
