2004 WSB Confirmations

ATF · 28 Sep 2003, 20:49 (Ref:733222)

I heard today that 2 manufacturers had already signed up for next seasons WSB campaign? Any ideas if this is true? Or who they are? There isn't anything on the official WSB website but 1 of them is sure to be Ducati isn't it?

blackx · 29 Sep 2003, 08:33 (Ref:733734)

Ducati and Petronas are the two manufacturers.........

f1manoz · 29 Sep 2003, 09:35 (Ref:733800)

Will Suzuki expand to two? That's what I've been wondering this entire time. Their SBK team is far more successful than their MotoGP team.

No surprise to see Ducati back in a works capacity.

BootsOntheSide · 29 Sep 2003, 09:40 (Ref:733806)

According to Flammini, there are 2 more ready to confirm within the next few weeks. Suzuki look more than likely, with Honda or Kawasaki probably the other. Apprillia are a long-shot.

But really, with Hodgson moving upwards and Xaus to AMA (Ducati all-but-confirmed this at Imola), the championship emans very little now. The 6 guys who were always always up the fron tin 2002 are all gone. It seems to have turned into a feeder for MotoGP, which is a waste.

ATF · 29 Sep 2003, 15:36 (Ref:734218)

We still had some good names left in 2003 (after Bayliss, Edwards, Haga and Bostrom left).

But after/if Hodgson and Xaus leave, all there will be is Corser, Toseland, Chili, Laconi!

racer69 · 30 Sep 2003, 12:58 (Ref:735293)

If the racing is good, the winning riders will become popular in no time.

Suzuki would be stupid to leave after the promise shown by the 1000cc GSX-R (though this is a Japanese manufacturer we are talking about

)

Ten Kate is rumoured to be moving up with the new Honda, i hope it is true.

The have to lose the control tyres though. Not only is this giving them bad publicity, the appearance of strong wildcards, which have always made the championship even better, will be gone. Big teams in the BSB, AMA and Japanese series have tyre contracts which won't allow them to run the control Pirelli's.

cntmunky · 30 Sep 2003, 13:36 (Ref:735337)

The aim of next year was to encourage the manufacturers to make kit bikes for privateers. This is the aim of the Ten Kate entry, although a non-works team. Yamaha was similar with Belgrada, although they are quieter just now.

Suzuki have also been quiet. Alstare team arent happy that rats are deserting a sinking ship, and only real other manufacturer to threaten the Dukes. New rules may disadvantage them even further since still fannying about with tuning rules for 4's. They were threatening to pull out in the middle of the season and come to BSB.

Crescent Suzuki, who are Suzuki in Brit series, were looking to step up to WSB, but with the control tyre and tuning rules this looks unlikely now. Same with Monstermob.

Think will be even more boring than this year by all accounts.

BootsOntheSide · 30 Sep 2003, 19:04 (Ref:735709)

More evidence of the damage that a succession of brain-dead rule changes have done to the series.

Stop faffing around with control tyres, restrictors for 1000cc bikes and all the rest, and create some rules which will allow top teams to enter and stsy. Ten Kate would be nice, but a real works Hodna effort, even works Suszuki or Yamaha, would be worth far more.

Maybe the time has come to dispand the series and allow the local championships to increase in stature, and maybe run races outside their base territories. If 2004's grid is as slim as it could be, that might be the option. Ducati are only contnuing because they get made to look good by teh lack fo real rivals.

**gomick** · 1 Oct 2003, 11:58 (Ref:736568)

Quote:

Think will be even more boring than this year by all accounts.

only if 2 ducati's (from the same team) win every race by 10 seconds

hopefully that dont happen - how hard can it be for flammini to get the rules right so that the bikes are even

f#$k ducati domination.....

racer69 · 1 Oct 2003, 15:21 (Ref:736823)

Aren't the proposed rules for next year effectively going to flip the advantage over to the fours...i was under the impression no restrictors will be run on any bikes....

In my opinion the championship will be much better off with the factories producing kit-bikes for teams rather than all-out factory efforts.

What difference would the rules make on Cresant and Monstermob's decisions, WSB, BSB, AMA and ISC have all agreed to run the same regulations next year.

cntmunky · 1 Oct 2003, 15:41 (Ref:736839)

They have dumped the restrictors for next year, but then changed the rules on amount of tuning. This would be less advanced tuning than that what BSB had last year. BSB & AMA are about the same now, and level of tuning looks about right, Suzukis are right up there. Basically FIM made these new rules without consulting any manufacturers and it would seem to joe public that the 4's should have an advantage, but in reality its not enough.

**gomick** · 2 Oct 2003, 00:37 (Ref:737303)

so in other words - wsb will be a ducati benefit again

.... i aint a rocket scientist, but how hard is it to get things even between the twins & fours

ATF · 2 Oct 2003, 16:22 (Ref:738205)

I heard that Karl Harris is driving for Honda yet again in the British SS championship. Does this mean Honda Racing are staying in Britain and doing BSB, not WSB?

**gomick** · 3 Oct 2003, 09:09 (Ref:739001)

Quote:

Originally posted by ATF
I heard that Karl Harris is driving for Honda yet again in the British SS championship. Does this mean Honda Racing are staying in Britain and doing BSB, not WSB?

do you mean in 2004

racer69 · 3 Oct 2003, 16:31 (Ref:739548)

Neil Tuxworth's Honda team is staying in Britain as far as i have heard.

That won't stop Ten Kate entering.

cntmunky · 3 Oct 2003, 16:58 (Ref:739571)

Honda UK (team that were works team with Edwards and co) will be staying put in UK next year. Karl is indead again on the 600, for some reason (money???) Believe they'll have 1 or 2 of the new blades in britain aswell, but dont with who?

Also in BSB 600, Easton is staying in the SS class, but with a new 749. Not heard owt about anyone for the new Suzuki.

Think Ten Kate are keen to step up, won the championship again, rather convincingly.

**gomick** · 3 Oct 2003, 22:29 (Ref:739890)

Quote:

Originally posted by cntmunky
Karl is indead again on the 600, for some reason (money???)
Also in BSB 600, Easton is staying in the SS class, but with a new 749.

its always good for a manufacturer to have the #1 plate on there bike... ie: harris on the honda 600

wouldnt it be great if the ducati 749 raced in world supersport - hopefully easton can race a few rounds next year in europe

f1manoz · 3 Oct 2003, 23:28 (Ref:739926)

Quote:

Originally posted by racer69
In my opinion the championship will be much better off with the factories producing kit-bikes for teams rather than all-out factory efforts.

I like that idea. I particularly like the idea od Ducati handing out top-line machinery to privateers. It would be good to see.

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