New FIM Supersport 300 World Championship Set to Begin in 2017
FIM and Dorna WSBK Organisation announce the creation of the WorldSSP 300 Championship for 2017
This new production-based platform is designed to be the new beginner class for the WorldSBK Championship, feeding the higher categories with new talents in the near future. This class will be a perfect window for the various manufacturers to showcase their new range of lightweight 300 sport bikes that are emerging in the marketplace. The category is devoted to building rider potential and discovering new talents worldwide, with a minimum rider entry age of 15.
“This new platform will be the perfect environment for developing future talent,” said Vito Ippolito, President of FIM. “The intention of WorldSSP 300 is to create a benchmark for National Championships to follow. We want to offer an environment that is regulated and relatively equal in which future talent can grow, and where manufacturers can accompany young riders as they take their first steps towards stardom.”
“The focus is to have an affordable Series for these young competitors,” said Javier Alonso, WorldSBK Executive Director. “There has been great interest for low-capacity motorcycles in this sport and the new WorldSSP 300 class strives to offer that. It will be promoted by Manufacturers as an easily accessible championship, the best possible platform to grow future stars where Manufacturers can accompany riders from an early age and as they progress through their career.”
In Australia we have had in recent years our own forms of Production 300 categories, firstly the successful Ninja 300 category racing in the Swann Superbike Series and more recently the Yamaha YZF-R3 Cup in the ASBK Championship.
For this new World Championship the class will be based around the machines sold in Europe as A2 class machines and excluding the A1 class machines. In Europe A2 category machines are limited to 35kw or 46.9hp, and a power to weight ratio of 0.2kw per kg, or 0.27hp per kg.
The World Superbike Commission decides which machines will eligible in the new WorldSSP 300 class. For 2017 the following will be legal (this list can be amended at any time by the Superbike Commission):
- Honda CBR500R
- Kawasaki Ninja 300 (EX300ADF)
- Yamaha YZF-R3
- KTM RC390
The minimum weight for each model is as follows:
- Honda CBR500R 150Kg
- Kawasaki Ninja 300 (EX300ADF) 140Kg
- Yamaha YZF-R3 140Kg
- KTM RC390 136Kg
A full list of the provisional Technical Regulations for the WorldSSP 300 Championship can be found here..
