Following the latest technical review at Concession Checkpoint 3, the FIM has confirmed that both BMW and Ducatihave exceeded the performance benchmark laid out in Article 2.4.3.2 of the WorldSBK regulations. As a consequence, both manufacturers will now face tighter restrictions under the fuel flow balancing rules.
Checkpoint 3 marked a critical point in the season for performance assessment. According to the FIM’s current concession framework, which was updated earlier this year, manufacturers that exceed the performance threshold must accept proportionate technical penalties—chief among them, limits on the fuel flow rate, which is a key factor influencing engine output and race pace.
Revised Fuel Flow Penalty Now in Effect
Under the updated linear penalty system introduced at Checkpoint 2, performance excess is no longer penalised in rigid steps but instead through a graduated model that scales based on how far a manufacturer surpasses the balance target. This algorithm applies a linearly scaled fuel flow limit, ranging from a minimum penalty of 0.5 kg/h to a maximum of 1.5 kg/h, based on the severity of overperformance.
In this instance, both BMW and Ducati have crossed the critical threshold far enough to warrant the maximum penalty. As a result, their fuel flow restriction has been raised from 1.0 kg/h to 1.5 kg/h.
Here’s a breakdown of how the system works:
- Minimum Penalty (Performance Threshold = -0.250): 0.5 kg/h fuel flow restriction
- Maximum Penalty (Performance Threshold = -1.000): 1.5 kg/h fuel flow restriction
- Formula: Fuel Flow Penalty = Performance Threshold × 1.5
This approach aims to maintain a more balanced playing field by adjusting manufacturer advantages incrementally and continuously, rather than applying blunt, step-based limitations.
The penalties remain cumulative and are not automatically reset at each checkpoint. To reduce or lift them, a manufacturer must demonstrate a relative drop in performance as defined under the same regulation—meaning any recovery must be earned through results.
Yamaha Receives Weight Increase in Supersport Following BoP Review
Over in the FIM Supersport World Championship, the FIM has made a Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustment affecting Yamaha’s YZF-R9 platform. The decision follows an in-depth review of the manufacturer’s race performance over the past six rounds, aligned with the guidelines in Article 2.5.3.1 – Balancing Calculation.
Yamaha has been consistently outperforming the competitive average during the first half of the season. In parallel, the brand recently submitted a request to homologate a new swingarm component—prompting a broader assessment of the bike’s overall performance envelope.
Weight Increased by 5 kg for Donington Onward
As part of the FIM’s ongoing commitment to fair competition, and in line with Yamaha’s prior agreement to accept BoP adjustments if measurable gains were observed after the swingarm update, the YZF-R9’s hard minimum weight will increase by 5 kg, effective from the Donington Park round.
Here are the updated BoP specifications for the Yamaha YZF-R9:
| Manufacturer | Hard Minimum Weight | Soft Maximum | Combined Bike & Rider Minimum* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha YZF-R9 | 166 kg (↑ from 161 kg) | 175 kg | 244 kg |
This change is made in accordance with Article 2.5.3 – Balancing Various Motorcycle Concepts, which governs the technical adjustments allowed to ensure parity across different bike configurations and platforms in the Supersport class.
Although engine performance figures remain unchanged, the FIM determined that Yamaha’s overall competitiveness—particularly following the structural chassis modification—necessitated a rebalancing step. This increase in minimum weight is expected to slightly reduce the R9’s agility and acceleration, thereby restoring parity with its rivals in the mid-season stage of the championship.
Official WorldSBK
