New grid format for Race 2 in WorldSSP ‘interesting, but more difficult’
A new grid positi✃oning rule has come into play for WorldSSP in 2024 and the riders have had their say.
In previous years the grid for Race 1 and 2 in WorldSSP was determined by qualifying re💎sults in the Superpole session.
This meant that whatever your result or fastest lap time inꩲ Race 1 waཧs, 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 2024 as the Superpole session wiꦜll only organise theཧ grid positions for Race 1.
Grid slots for Race 2 will instead be determined by ꦉyour f✨astest lap in Race 1, thus giving riders the chance to show off a different skill.
But thiﷺs rule is only in place for the top nine positio♐ns, 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 enough to be in♌ the top nine, then you will start Race 2 based on your result in qualifyꦦing.
“Without FP2, I think it’ll be important to do something for Race 2, becaꦑuse 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 w𓆉as Federico Caricasul꧙o, 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 same team and bike, and arrives with a good base.
“Maybe for us wh🍃o have three days to understand where we are and how to be fast, it’ll bꦡe a little bit more difficult.
“For the grid for Race 2, I ꦜdon’t know. The important thing is that it’s the same for everybody.”
Also giving his view🌊s was Yamaha rider Stefano Manzi, who is considered the favourite for the title after finishing second to Nico𝔉lo Bulega last season.
The ex-Moto2 rider said: “At the moment, I’𓂃m not focusing on it but it’s going to be interesting.
“I have t🤡o be fast over a single lap in the race because I, for sure, want to start as far f༒orward as possible in Race 2.”
