Yellow flags in Superpole: a nuisance: “Unfair, needs to be reviewed”

Since 2019, the Superbike World Championship has used a traditional qualifying format to determine the starting grid. Initially, the session – still known as Superpole – lasted 25 minutes; in 2021 it will be reduced to 20 minutes, and in 2024 to just 15 minutes. Taking into account the in-lap and out-lap, as well as a pit stop for a tyre change, riders on long circuits may sometimes only be able to complete four timed laps!

There is no room for error with this format. However, in the event of a crash, it is not only the rider who has crashed who is penalised, but all the other competitors as well. This is because paragraph 1.23.2 of the Superbike Regulations stipulates that all lap times recorded by riders passing through a sector under yellow flags are disallowed. And this happens in practically every Superpole session; most recently at Donington Park, it happened as many as 48 (!) times.

Yellow flags on the race track mean: Caution, danger off the track; drive carefully and slow down. To be clear: such a rule makes perfect sense for the protection of marshals and riders!

However, the very strict definition is causing discontent amongst teams and riders, as it can sometimes have a negative impact on the entire race weekend. “The rule regarding the cancellation of laps under yellow flags needs to be revised,” emphasised Go Eleven team manager Denis Sacchetti, whose rider Lorenzo Baldassarri had two laps cancelled in England. “The risk of having to start right at the back because of mistakes made by other riders is high – and that’s not fair.”

A suggestion from the riders themselves: laps should only be discarded if a rider’s personal best sector time was set whilst under yellow flags. After all, even if a rider doesn’t set a personal best sector time, they can still achieve their fastest lap.

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