Forward of the introduction of the Sportsbike World Championship in 2026, WorldSBK has launched some clarifications in regards to the new class.
A sports activities bike class will likely be launched to WorldSBK subsequent 12 months, changing the WorldSSP300 class with a ruleset aimed toward bikes such because the Yamaha R7 and Aprilia RS660, for instance.
The SBK Committee assembly selected a number of resolutions concerning new classes, together with age rules. These rules could seem a bit difficult at first, however WorldSBK says they’re supposed to make sure a “easy transition” from WorldSSP300 to the brand new WorldSPB class.
The minimal age for the brand new class is about at 16 years. The utmost age for riders to affix the WorldSBK paddock for the primary time within the 2026 sportbike season is 25 years. Nevertheless, the utmost age for what WorldSBK calls an “skilled” rider is 28 years. On this case, “skilled” refers to riders who’ve participated within the WorldSSP300 or WorldWCR.
From 2026, the utmost age for riders to compete in sports activities bike competitions will likely be 28 years previous.
The SBK Committee additionally resolved that the utmost grid dimension for WorldSPB will likely be 34 gamers, together with one wildcard. This additionally applies to WorldSSP.
Technical rules have additionally been accredited, confirming that, like Supersport, World SPB will likely be topic to a efficiency balancing system that makes use of engine concession elements, a torque-limiting map with rev-limiting, and a minimal weight to realize parity between completely different producers within the class.
Moreover, the technical rules state that eligible bikes should be capable to obtain “roughly 90 horsepower.” That is beneath the 95bhp that BSB makes use of as its goal engine efficiency for bikes in its personal sportsbike class.
Nevertheless, the World Championship will characteristic a really completely different bike choice to the British Championship, with the Honda CBR600RR listed alongside the Cove 450RR. Along with the Yamaha R7, eligible bikes embrace the Suzuki GSX-8R, Triumph Daytona 660, Kawasaki ZX-6R 636, and CFMoto 675 SR-R.
This can be a significantly various assortment of bikes, with Honda’s showroom model producing 119bhp and a nominal curb weight of 193kg, whereas the Kove has a nominal curb weight of 165kg and delivers 69bhp from its 443cc inline four-cylinder.
Due to this fact, the load parameters of every bike are additionally very vast. For instance, the Cove has a mixed minimal rider and bike weight of 216kg, whereas the Suzuki has the best mixed minimal weight at 244kg, though that is but to be confirmed.
There are additionally limits to engine allocation, every engine should run no less than two rounds.
WorldSBK gas circulate
After a season of comparatively controversial gas circulate rules to steadiness efficiency, the SBK committee has revealed how gas circulate will increase and reduces carry over from season to season.
If a producer implements a discount of 1 kg/h from one season, an extra discount of 0.5 kg/h could also be utilized within the subsequent season in response to the MSMA algorithm.
However, if a producer will increase gas circulate by 0.5 kg/h on account of concessions from one season (as Yamaha did in 2025), it might probably additionally get an extra 0.5 kg/h extra concession within the subsequent season in response to the MSMA algorithm.
Moreover, the SBK Committee stipulated that “if the producer continues to show vital efficiency benefits, the FIM/DWO (Dorna World SBK Group) reserves the precise to use extra reductions of as much as 0.5 kg/h”.
Moreover, it has been clarified that every producer can introduce and use as much as two FIM Class 1 licensed fuels per season.
