On Track Off Road No. 192

ate entity) to two-over-twodays,
a reversed grid and now
three races.
“The target became making
sure that televisions were
switched on and fans were
watching,” explains journalist,
photographer and commentator
Steve English. “Adding a
race to the Saturday schedule
in 2016 was the first step.
This was motivated by a goal
to give fans more action on
“qualifying day.” For this year
the Superpole race was added
to Sunday’s schedule. The tenlap
shootout race has been
well received by riders.”
“It has been a few years now
since they changed the two
race format on a Sunday and
introduced the Saturday race,”
says GeeBee Images and
OTOR’s Graeme Brown. “This
was primarily to secure a live
TV slot with MediaSet but
many people felt that it diluted
the essence of WorldSBK.”
“In a fan survey last year it
was shown there was still an
appetite for two races on a
Sunday and so a 10 lap Superpole
race was introduced
to the Sunday programme,”
the Scot adds. “It certainly
gives the fans more action on
a Sunday and seems to have
been well received but the
Saturday race remains.”
“Overall the new schedule in
WorldSBK isn’t perfect but we
get an extra race and an extra
opportunity to see them battle
it out on track,” says English.
“Some paddock insiders have
called for the Superpole race
to be held on Saturday and
used to set the grid for two
grids on Sunday. Some have
called for it to be scrapped.
Some have said they love the
changes. Having taken family
members to Donington Park
over the last two rounds I
asked them for their thoughts
and they’re verdict was clear;
having more action on track
throughout the weekend was
only a good thing.”
More track time has an obvious
benefit at the circuit but
this still hasn’t helped inflate
WorldSBK crowd figures (and
their live Paddock Show/Podi-
CHANGING MXGP & ONE MOTO