It has taken a long time, but the World Superbike riders finally have the own Riders Safety Commission.
Unlike MotoGP (but there are issues there, as only very few riders attend) there has never been a riders safety commission, even if there has been several informal discussions between the riders on safety issues and even votes on who could represent them, but the real wake-up call came following the tragic death of World Supersport rider Andrea Antonelli at Moscow.
The FIM and Superbike World Champion Race Direction have now officially formalized the exsistence the riders safety commission, and Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK), Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike), Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare) and Roberto Rolfo (ParkinGo MV Agusta Corse) for WSS – no one for World Superstocks was elected – have been elected by their fellow riders to bring to the attention the safety problems that might exsist at the various venues.
World Superbikes has often been in the middle of controversy regarding inadequate safety conditions or certain decisions.
The latest problem was at Nurburgring, following Jonathan Rea and Leon Camier’s crashes that immediately brought up the question of inadequate barriers and missed flags.
Superbike Safety CommissionFIM Superbike World ChampionshipThe FIM, together with the FIM Superbike World Championship Race Direction, called ameeting with all World Superbike Riders at Silverstone (United Kingdom), during the ninth Round of the season.
The aimo f the meeting was to formalise the intention to create an additional “Superbike Safety Commission” composed by Riders.
Those attending were asked to vote for their ownrepresentatives, four WSBK Rider splus one WSS Rider.
Henceforth, these Riders will represent all the Riders of all series – including the Superstockclasses – during meetings, talks and consultations.
At each Round, the Safety Commission will meet to consider proposals for any changes that could be made at the circuit to improve safety, as well as to discuss different aspects and procedures covered by the sporting regulations of the Championship.
The elected Riders’representatives are: Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK), Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike), Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare) and Roberto Rolfo (ParkinGo MV Agusta Corse) for WSS.
These Riders will join the existing Superbike Safety Commission composed by the Race Direction members: Igor Eskinja – FIM Safety Officer, Gregorio Lavilla – WSBK Sporting Director, Giulio Bardi -Team and Riders representative, Gianfranco Carloia – WSBK RaceDirector, and Daniel Carrera, WSBK Championship Director.
The first Superbike Safety Commission was held last weekend during the German round at the Nürburgring in Germany.