WSBK to Make Fake Headlight Stickers Mandatory for 2013

World Superbike racebikes will be required to have fake headlight stickers on their race fairings to more closely resemble their production series counterparts.

The new regulation, set to kick in for the 2013 WSBK season, was designed to establish a closer link between the production model and the race-trim superbike. The new rules will also mandate 17-inch aluminum wheels.

The Kawasaki Race Team got a head start on the new regulation, debuting fake headlight stickers on its Ninja ZX-10R superbikes for riders Tom Sykes and Loris Baz at this weekend’s races at Spain’s Aragon circuit. The team will use the stickers for the rest of the 2012 season.

The new regulations put the emphasis on “production” in WSBK’s status as a “production-based” racing series. The new Claiming Rule Team class in MotoGP raised some hackles for WSBK organizers as it allowed production-based engines into the prototype series. The new headlight rule re-emphasizes the production aspect of WSBK with a noticeable visual distinction. The rule regarding aluminum wheel should also reduce costs as teams won’t be allowed more expensive magnesium alloys.

[Source: WSBK, Kawasaki]

By Dennis Chung