WorldSBK racing began one early spring weekend in the middle of England , in the year 1988 . Official WorldSBK Timekeeper and Partner Tissot , by comparison , started as a company way back in 1853 and began timing sports events for the first time in 1938 . It then got involved in the world of Motorsports as early as 1953 , many years before WorldSBK was even officially born . recorded is 0.004 seconds . You cannot even visualise the first zero of that number in your mind within 0.004 seconds … Complete accuracy in these things in fundamental . As Tissot itself has said in its communications in the recent past , “ The athletes have made such a commitment , have made great personal sacrifices , so it ’ s absolutely imperative to be right .”
After a fruitful relationship with WorldSBK ’ s prototype stablemate in Dorna ’ s suite of race series - MotoGP TM - the famous Swiss watch brand and the multi-national WorldSBK paddock joined forces for the first time in 2011 . Any regular WorldSBK fans would almost certainly answer the question of what Tissot ’ s most recognisable input is in the recent era with the answer “ Tissot Superpole !” Nowadays the Swiss company ’ s presence extends not only to the final qualifying competition for grid places on Saturdays during a regular race weekend but since 2019 , Sunday ’ s 10-lap Tissot Superpole Race too . It makes for a big Tissot presence on both main days of any race weekend .
In one way the Tissot Superpole Race can be seen as an expansion of their mutually beneficial branding partnership . From naming rights in Tissot Superpole qualifying to a similar status in a real points scoring race too . It is also , however , a logical extension of Tissot ’ s existing WorldSBK philosophy . That Tissot Superpole race also determines the grid positions for the top nine riders in what is the final full distance race on Sunday afternoon . To put it simply , it is racing to qualify , in addition to being an important points scoring opportunity for the top nine riders .
Tissot ’ s partnership with WorldSBK helps immeasurably from its public status and its sporting package , firstly via Tissot ’ s proven history of precision and quality being partnered in WorldSBK ’ s public image and practical timing needs . Secondly , in terms of modern data-handling capabilities , Tissot ’ s expertise and input is invaluable . If you look at the vast amount of results that are produced over a race weekend , in any of the WorldSBK ’ s championship classes , accurate and extensive data gathering and huge organisational efforts are required . Tissot ’ s input ensures their accurate and speedy delivery .
Fittingly for a company with global reach and interests Tissot ’ s bandwidth of technical and sponsorship support crosses so many boundaries , with everything from WorldSBK and MotoGP TM in motorcycle sport to basketball with the NBA and FIBA and cycling with iconic Tours such as La Vuelta , Il Giro d ‘ Italia and the Tour de France , among others , all timed by Tissot .
At over 20 days in duration ‘ The Tour ’ is just a tad longer than the biggest WorldSBK event ever run , that ’ s for sure , but Tissot ’ s link to this and other top sports enhances WorldSBK ’ s presence and kudos . From another viewpoint , adding WorldSBK to MotoGP TM in its motorcycle power-sports portfolio broadens the appeal and approach of Tissot to some potential new customers .
In WorldSBK the link to the public , to bike enthusiasts of all kinds , is particularly strong , simply because the bikes are heavily related to the original showroom models that anybody can buy , provided by a wide range of manufacturers . No matter what level of machine is being raced in WorldSBK , the timing side of paddock life is firmly and happily within Tissot ’ s remit .
In 2021 there were some incredibly close WorldSBK races , from as early as the first race of the second round in Estoril , in which the top three were separated by less than a second . Or the inaugural race at Most , with 0.040 seconds separating eventual champion Toprak Razgatlioglu from Scott Redding . With new talents and some top riders swapping teams in 2022 , we can expect a lot more close competition through the whole season .
Will a lap record go by just a thousandth of a second ? Log onto Tissot Live Timing on www . worldsbk . com this year to find out if it happens , as it happens . All through 2022 Tissot will again be the ones displaying just how close every race and qualifying session is .
TISSOT
Tissot , the leader in the traditional Swiss watches in terms of volume , have always made their products to exacting standards , a dedication to precision that is more than useful in a sport where the closest finishes in WorldSBK history are measured right down to the narrowest margins . The closest first-to-second finish ever
Want to know who wins Tissot Superpole at the first few rounds ? Or the short Tissot Superpole Races ? Or the full distance slug-outs between potential champions ? Tissot , WorldSBK ’ s trusted partner in precision , will be the official outlet to let us all know .
67 POWERED BY