New grid format for Race 2 in WorldSSP ‘interesting, but more difficult’
A ne⭕w grid positioning rule has come into play for WorldSSP in 2024 and the rider🍨s have had their say.
In previous years the grid for Race 1 and 2 in WorldSSP was determin♚ed by qualifying results in the Superpole session.
This meant 🃏that whatever your result or fastest lap time in Race 1 was, you would start Race 2 in the same position as Race 1, due to your qualifying result.
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However, that is all changed in 20ꦯ24 as the Superpoಞle session will only organise the grid positions for Race 1.
Grid slots for Race 2 will instead be determined by your fastest lap in Race 1, thus giving riders the chance to show off a different skil🐷l🍨.
But this rule is only in place for the 🌜top nine positions, meaning if your best lap time was one of the nine fastest laps in Race 1, you will therefore be given a top nine position 🐬for Race 2.
If your best lap time is not quick enoug🎀h to be in the top nine, then you will start Race 2 based on your result in qualifying.
“Without FP2, I think it’ll be important to 🥂do something for Race 2, because if you crash during the Superpole, you have the chance to make a good lap time and try to start Race 2 in the first nine positions,” said Yari Montella who topped the Official Phillip Island test on Monday.
Second fastest was Federico Caricasulo, who told WorldSBK.com: “For the Superpole on Friday, I think it’s a small advantage for everyone who has everything from the year before, the ꦜsame team and bike, and arrives with a g🧸ood base.
“Maybe for us who have three days to understand where we are and how t🐲o be fast, it’ll꧋ be a little bit more difficult.
“For the grid🌠 for Race 2, I don’t know. The important thing is that it’s the same for everybody.”
Also giving his views was Yam༒aha rider Stefano♔ Manzi, who is considered the favourite for the title after finishing second to Nicolo Bulega last season.
The ex-Moto2 rider said: “At the ♈moment, I’m not focusing on it but it’s going to be interesting.
“I have to be fast over a single lap in the race because I𒁏, for sure, w🍌ant to start as far forward as possible in Race 2.”
