New 2023 British Superbike format explained: Title Fighters dropped, Showdown stays, Points rise

The Bennetts British Superbike championship has announced a new points format for the 2023 season.
New BSB format: Title Fighters dropped, Showdown stays, Points ‘crescendo'

While BSB will continue to be divided into a Main Season followed by three Showdown rounds, the pre👍vious system where only the top eight ‘Title Fighters’ went forward to battle for the crown is being dropped.

From 2023 all riders still in mathematical contention will remain eligible for the BSB title heading i𒁃nto the Showdown stage, when the points on offer at each race will now increase substantially.

Points will continue to be awarded to the top 15 finishers throughout the championship, but a victory during the Main Season will only be worth 18 points, rising to 25 points for the start of the Showdown and 35 points at the season fi🧸nale.

Series Director Stuart Higgs said the aim of the newღ system is to 💜reward season-long performance, keep more teams and riders in title contention and maintain the ‘crescendo of competition’ as the season reaches a climax.

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“This represents only the third time in the series’ long history that we have adapted the Championship format, following co🎉nsultation with teams and riders,” Higg﷽s explained.

“The Show🦩down format from 2010-2022 has served the championship well and provided some historic and edge-of-the-seat outcomes but we feel it’s right to evolve the format.

“The ✤new format will recognise season-long performance and ideally create the opportunity for more teams and riders to remain in mathematical title contention and maintain the crescendo of competition that is seen [in] many other sports disciplines.”

The previous BSB format saw the top eight Title Fighters (increased from six in ꧃2021) have their points equalised for the start of the Showdown, keeping them out of reach of the others, plus their Main Season podiums (5 points for 1st, 3 for 2nd, 1 for 3rd).

New BSB format: Title Fighters dropped, Showdown stays, Points ‘crescendo'

The new British Superbike points format:

Across the Main Season, comprising 24 races, points will be awarded to the top 15 as follows:

18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

For the following Showdown events at Oulton Park and Donington Park, the points per race will increase to:

25-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1

The points per race will increase again for the Brands Hatch season finale to:

35-30-27-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2

A Teams Championship will run ꦫconcurrently with the same principle of an increasing points ꦐvalue.

Bradley Ray, the 2022 British Superbike champion, was also leading t♛he standings at the start of the Showdown.

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