WSB: Long lap penalties introduced as part of updated regulations

The long lap penalty system will be introduced to the World Superbike Championship next season.

The sanction has been used effectively in MotoGP since 2019, with riders having to follow a wider route around the track as a punishment for breaking various rules. Typically, MotoGP riders are given a long lap penalty for exceeding track limits multiple times during a race.

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The long lap penalty location changes at each track depending on the circuit layout and is intended to cost the rider valuable time. The penalised rider must ride through the defined area within three laps of being notified.

The rider in question is required to stay in-between the white lines of the penalty route whilst completing their penalty, with Johann Zarco memorably taking this ruling to the very limit at the Red Bull Ring.

The long lap penalty will not be available at every circuit on the calendar due to their configuration. It’s likely that the long lap penalty will be in force at circuits that are used for WSB and MotoGP.

Other 2021 regulations include riders having their laps cancelled if they ride through a yellow flag zone during all practice sessions. Elsewhere, the World Supersport 300 riders will no longer compete in two groups during qualification. There will now only be one group.

It has also been revealed that the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup will become part of the schedule at selected rounds. There will be two Supersport and Supersport 300 races per weekend when the classes are scheduled to appear.