New grid format for Race 2 in WorldSSP ‘interesting, but more difficult’
A new grid positioningꦰ 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 qual🌳ifying results in the Superpole session🐻.
This meant that whatever your result or fastest lap time in Race 1 w🌼as, you would start Raౠce 2 in the same position as Race 1, due to your qualifying result.
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However, th🐻at is all c♏hanged in 2024 as the Superpole session will only organise the grid positions for Race 1.
Grid slots for Race 2 will instead be determined by your fastest lap in Race 1, thus giving riders the chance to show off a different ꩵs🍎kill.
But this rule is only in place for the top nine positions, mea🗹ning if your best lap time was one of the nine fastest laps in Race 1, you will theref𝐆ore 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 qualifying.
“Without FP2, I think it’ll be important t♔o do something for Race 2, because 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 was Federico Caricasulo, 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 wi𝔉th a good base.
“Maybe for us who have three days to understand where we are and how to be fast, itꦕ’ll be aಞ little bit more difficult.
“For the grid for Race 2, I don’t know. The important thing is that it’s the ꧃same for everybody.”
Also giving his views was Ya♉maha rider Stefano Manzi, who is considered the favourite for the title after finishing second to Ni꧟colo Bulega last season.
The ex-Moto2 rider said: “At th😼e moment, I’m not focusing on it but it’s going to be interesting🦋.
“I have to be fast over a single lap in the race because I, for sure, want to start as far forward as possible in Race 🐠2.”
