WorldSBK Test: the Aruba Ducati team also considers the Flag to Flag

As we can see in the photo, Scott Redding brakes hard. His boot touching the ground, the nose of his V4 R almost touching the mudguard, for a Ducati front section that couldn’t be more compressed. Even the Pirelli front tyre is compressed, such is the force and weight impressed on the braking system and Öhlins fork.

And now the Swedish firm’s suspension system offers the factory Ducati team another new feature. A foot, or rather the lower ‘swallow tail’ section, which makes for a sort of upside down, split V. And what is this for? Well, the modification has been made so that the team can use a special new (and expensive) front stand when carrying out a rapid tyre change.

The rapid tyre change becomes key during the Flag to Flag procedure, which differs between SBK and MotoGP. In the reigning class, if the weather changes, every rider can come into the garage and go back out on a second bike. In the production-derived series, where they have a "rolling chassis", riders get their mechanics to change the tyres to suit the conditions.

WorldSBK different from Endurance

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While in endurance racing it’s best to change over as soon as possible, this is not the case in SBK. In the sense that teams and riders must respect a minimum time calculated and set by Race Direction. This variable depends on the length of the pitlane at any given circuit.

There is also a fixed quota, the total representing the minimum quota below which riders cannot drop without receiving a penalty or sanction. While in EWC every rider does as they like. Or rather, the quicker you change the wheels and refuel, the sooner you can reach the finish line. Despite the fact that races can last as long as 24 hours.

Translated by Heather Watson

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