Rules
Briefing
A meeting of sporting or technical character, generally called by the Race Direction, involving riders and/or team managers.
Marshals
The people responsible for signalling to the riders, by means of special flags, and also for assisting them if they come off the track.
Lap chart
The document drawn up by the timing personnel at the end of the race, showing the placings and times of each rider at the end of each lap.
Pit-lane
The lane that runs alongside the circuit and that teams occupy to work on their bikes; also the point from which the riders first take to the track.
Race director
The person responsible for ensuring that the Rules are respected, and for ensuring that practice sessions and the race itself run smoothly.
Entry
Registration for a race. An 'Entry List' is published before each race and lists all the riders who have registered to take part, together with the names of their teams, and the type of motorcycle they will be riding.
Age
The minimum age for participants in a Superbike race is 18.
FIM or F.I.M
The International Motorcycling Federation, the coordinating body for international motorcycle racing.
IMS
Infront Motorsports – Series promoters and organisers, who hold the rights issued by the FIM.
Warm Up Lap
The lap that riders complete before returning to their positions on the starting grid ready for the actual start of the race.
Sighting lap
The lap that riders complete from the pit lane to the starting grid. This lap is not obligatory and riders may choose to push their machines from the pits to the starting grid.
Starting grid
The grid on which riders have to line up to start the race. In Superbike, the starting grid is made up of 4 riders per row. The riders in each row are arranged at intervals, with the fastest in front. Each row is separated by a gap of 9 metres. Positions on the starting grid, determined in qualifying practice and in the superpole session, remain valid for both races in a meeting.
Jump start
Occurs when a rider starts before the starting lights change. Incurs a penalty.
Open paddock
An event that is characteristic of Superbike (and almost unique to it in top level motorcycle racing). On the Thursday before the race, the public are allowed free access to the paddock, where riders hold autograph sessions.
Paddock
The area behind the pits where the various teams park their motorhomes and trucks.
Pit walk
Entry to the pit lane. A privilege restricted to pass holders, who are permitted to visit the pit lane at times when the riders are not busy with practice or racing.
Pole position - Superpole
The first position on the starting grid, determined by Superpole qualifying.
Free Practice
Practice sessions in which lap times do not count towards determining starting grid positions.
Qualifying Practice
Practice sessions in which lap times count towards determining starting grid positions. Riders are placed according to their fastest lap time. To participate in the race, riders must record one lap no longer than 107% of the pole position lap time.
Superpole
The means of qualifying for the top 16 grid places in the WSBK class. For 2012 it comprises three sessions, in a shootout format, in which the slowest riders in the first session miss out on the second session, then the slowest riders in the second session miss out the final Superpole session, when the top eight riders fight it our for pole and grid places on the front two rows.
Protest
The means by which a team can contest the result achieved by a rider from a rival team, generally on the basis of technical or sporting considerations.
Ride-through
An enforced ride-through the pit lane at a reduced speed during a race. Used as a penalty for riders who infringe the rules. Riding through the pit lane at a reduced speed (60 km/h) greatly increases lap time compared to a normal track lap.
Lights
Used to signal the start of the race. Lights are also installed at the exit from the pit lane to tell riders whether it is safe to re-enter the circuit or not.
Technical checks
Checks performed on the bikes to ensure that they comply with Technical Rules.
Warm up
The test session held in the morning of the race day to ensure that bikes are set up ready for the race itself.
Wild card
Riders permitted to take part in a specific championship race meeting. The host federation may nominate up to four wildcard riders, and the FIM/IMS another two.