Big shake up for the BSB

[BobbyC]

The points system issue can be said in two words when considering saloon-car racing in the United States: The Chase.

Little did we know what a feeder-level saloon-car series (United Speed Alliance) did in 2001 by organising the Four Champions Playoff to unite regional racing champions for a mini-series to determine an overall series champion what has happened. NASCAR adopted the system in 2004 ("The Chase") and the NHRA adopted it in 2007 ("Countdown"). Seems BSB saw the Chase and Countdown and devised the system.

I see the Chase system in the Showdown although it's not just winning but any of the top three each race earns bonus points. The greater percentage of points for a win as a bonus point is considerably greater than in the Chase (10/190 for a Sprint Cup win, 3/25 for a BSB win). The Chase system will be booed by traditionalists, but rewards wins properly.

[Mach24]

The Chase system will be booed by traditionalists, but rewards wins properly.

I don't have a problem with the additional points spread (don't have a prob if they stay the same either), the reason why the points were close in the first place was to keep the Championship tight.

This concept effectively reduces the Championship to 3 rounds, 3 race tracks. Boring!

[BobbyC]

I don't have a problem with the additional points spread (don't have a prob if they stay the same either), the reason why the points were close in the first place was to keep the Championship tight.

This concept effectively reduces the Championship to 3 rounds, 3 race tracks. Boring!

Actually, no. Each round is worth more than ever. If you are on the podium all 19 races (8 wins, 5 seconds, and 6 thirds), that's 40 points. If your second-place opponent just 12 podiums (4 wins, 6 seconds, and 2 thirds), that's 26 points. That's 14 bonus points and that equals an additional third-place finish plus one advantage over your opponent.

The real fun is the cut. There are so many times in Sprint Cup since the playoff concept began the cutoff position is hotly contested. But last year was an example of the momentum and the big risk. Kyle Busch went all-out and wanted one more "win credit" (10 points; only wins earn credits) and crashed in the final straight in an attempt to protect a lead. That crash dropped him to 14th place. If he had finished second and let Tony Stewart pass him for second, he would have earned 175 points instead of 126 points, and led to a downward spiral for a few races. At the end of the season, the 41 points lost cost him a shot at the playoff and he lost his team manager.

A rider will now in BSB have the gamble. Go big and take home more points for the playoff, or conserve and lose more than you gain. You pad the impact of a win by taking not just the lead and putting you closer to a shot at the top six seeds, but once you go into the playoffs, you earn a bonus. If at the last regular season race you have six riders going for one Showdown slot, the story is those six will want to go for the win. You also have the points leader wanting to win again in order to gain more points for the Showdown.

Winning is valued more and dominating an entire season now requires no mistakes, no hiccups. No more lazy relaxing. It's All Out All The Time.

[Mach24]

Actually, no. Each round is worth more than ever. If you are on the podium all 19 races (8 wins, 5 seconds, and 6 thirds), that's 40 points. If your second-place opponent just 12 podiums (4 wins, 6 seconds, and 2 thirds), that's 26 points. That's 14 bonus points and that equals an additional third-place finish plus one advantage over your opponent.

The real fun is the cut. There are so many times in Sprint Cup since the playoff concept began the cutoff position is hotly contested. But last year was an example of the momentum and the big risk. Kyle Busch went all-out and wanted one more "win credit" (10 points; only wins earn credits) and crashed in the final straight in an attempt to protect a lead. That crash dropped him to 14th place. If he had finished second and let Tony Stewart pass him for second, he would have earned 175 points instead of 126 points, and led to a downward spiral for a few races. At the end of the season, the 41 points lost cost him a shot at the playoff and he lost his team manager.

A rider will now in BSB have the gamble. Go big and take home more points for the playoff, or conserve and lose more than you gain. You pad the impact of a win by taking not just the lead and putting you closer to a shot at the top six seeds, but once you go into the playoffs, you earn a bonus. If at the last regular season race you have six riders going for one Showdown slot, the story is those six will want to go for the win. You also have the points leader wanting to win again in order to gain more points for the Showdown.

Winning is valued more and dominating an entire season now requires no mistakes, no hiccups. No more lazy relaxing. It's All Out All The Time.

Most riders race to win, or at least beat the guy they are racing wheel to wheel with.

I just want plain and simple RACING, I don't want to have to contact a Rocket Scientist everytime someone overtakes another rider and the points mean you receive an elephant stamp and go straight to fairyland (with or without your team manager).

Lets hope the racing is as good as the last few years, someones championship gets ruined and the rules get returned to normal sooner rather than later.

I have no axe to grind with you kind sir. Thank you for your time in explaining the wonders of the new rules to me.

I am off the re-invent the wheel!

[Rod Richardson]

Just couldn't leave a successful recipe alone, could they! IMO they should plant their showdown idea where the sun don't shine.

[neninja]

Well I won't bother going to the early rounds as they are now irrelevant.

Total crock

They're doing their best to ruin a decent event

[patnicholls]

Hmmm.

I was initially unconvinced by the new rules. However, the entry currently stands at 32 bikes with probably a couple more to add before the season begins (which let's not forget, is still over a month away). So it would seem the teams have no problems with it - and they have said as such - , combined with the new EVO class rules which look like the way forward for Superbikes in the future.

And...looking at the stats of previous seasons it isn't likely to make any difference to who wins the title. BSB doesn't work like NASCAR (although NASCAR definitely has lots going for it in many ways) - there are very few occasions where a 'safe' run to a moderate placing is the done thing because bike racing just isn't like that (to be honest despite what some people say in an attempt to wrongly poo-poo multiple champ Jimmie Johnson, neither is NASCAR really, but the car set-up issues and changes throughout the races there throw a spanner in the works). You always have to go balls-out and bike setup is fairly consistent through the race unless you really cook your tyres, so the fastest guys will nearly always win anyway.

The guys who win the title will still win the title. Behind that, it might spice up the battle to get in the top six overall (which this year was settled by injuries basially). The privateers and indeed anyone outside the top eight probably will be unaffected. It will mean the last few rounds definitely have meaning. It is the same for everyone. The 'grid for race two being based on race 1 results unless you fall off' thing is a bit silly, but nothing major.

I think on balance, I'm behind it. It is a bold move, but BSB is fairly progressive when it comes to rule changes anyway.

[Rod Richardson]

Well.......I'm more interested in the individual races than I am in who ends up on top of the pile and see no need for the showdown arrangement.

But then again, I don't even believe in riders being allowed to have spare bikes, qualifying tyres or in grid positions being determined due to a single lap time instead of an average of say their 3 best lap times.

[Mach24]

Hmmm.

I was initially unconvinced by the new rules. However, the entry currently stands at 32 bikes with probably a couple more to add before the season begins (which let's not forget, is still over a month away). So it would seem the teams have no problems with it - and they have said as such - , combined with the new EVO class rules which look like the way forward for Superbikes in the future.

Pat, as ever there is much to look forward to in BSB, not the least the progression of the EVO class. I think the point that many are making is that BSB did not need this hype to improve upon a truly great championship. I guess the teams can not show too much dissension in the ranks.

As RR said above, lets just watch race to race and enjoy BSB. At the end of the day we will all know who should be the series champion, even if the points don't show it. I for one hope this new farce point score does not result in the fastest and best over a full season missing out on what is rightfully theirs.

Bring on the racing! Go Brookesy!

[neninja]

Bring on the racing! Go Brookesy!

Let's hope he gets noticed for his results this year and not for acting like a 2 wheeled missile again