Ducati being pitiful

[Gerben24]

According to Dutch website racesport.nl Ducati is now threatening to pull the plug on their WSBK programme if there is not a rule change in place by the end of May. Next year Ducati want to compete with their 1098cc bike, but with the current regulations that's not allowed. Francis Batta (Suzuki) has already threatened to go to MotoGP if a rule change is happening.

I think it's really arrogant of Ducati to think that when they build a new bike rules will be amendent to suit their machine. If I was Honda or Yamaha I would just compete with the motogp bike and demand a rule change...

I know a lot threathening is going on, but we have seen weird things happen in wsbk.

[Knowlesy]

Hopefully they will sling their hook. Enough is enough, the championship is bigger than them. Go away and whinge elsewhere, you pointless excuse of a manufacturer. The 999 is a winner in series worldwide and yet they complain.

Good luck in getting the MotoGP rules changed to your tastes chaps.

[f1manoz]

Given that the WSBK is an Italian love-in, I won't be surprised if they buckle and Ducati are given what they want.

[chunder]

I have to admit that you are probably right manoz, Ducate were ther at the beginning of the series and were instrumental in getting the rules right so that their initially down on pwer 851 was competitive.
Over the years its been obvious, especially through the ninties that their bike overall was the best package.
Clearly that also attracts the best riders.

What is also clear is that the otehr makers were rubbish! Check out the Sugo races, it was totally obviou that Kawa,Suzuki,Yamaha could make bikes work, they won neraly every time there! I know its easier to win on home tracks coz of setup etc, but the point is that as Foggy used to say put someone decent on a 4 cylinder and they will challenge, be it Haga, Russell, Mladin or anyone else.

I do think though that this new thing has gone too far. They are trying to pish Flamminis hand by building a bike that is not legal for WSBK racing, then as Alstare and Ten Kate are making noises about leaving then they are too.

Its typical Italian crybaby politics really, they are winning everywhere still ona 3 year old bike, why should anyone back down!

[D.R.T.]

Heres hoping the tell Duke to stick it. Dont want to have to deal with another Ducati Cup.

[BootsOntheSide]

Originally Posted by chunder

I have to admit that you are probably right manoz, Ducate were ther at the beginning of the series and were instrumental in getting the rules right so that their initially down on pwer 851 was competitive.
Over the years its been obvious, especially through the ninties that their bike overall was the best package.
Clearly that also attracts the best riders.

What is also clear is that the otehr makers were rubbish! Check out the Sugo races, it was totally obviou that Kawa,Suzuki,Yamaha could make bikes work, they won neraly every time there! I know its easier to win on home tracks coz of setup etc, but the point is that as Foggy used to say put someone decent on a 4 cylinder and they will challenge, be it Haga, Russell, Mladin or anyone else.

I do think though that this new thing has gone too far. They are trying to pish Flamminis hand by building a bike that is not legal for WSBK racing, then as Alstare and Ten Kate are making noises about leaving then they are too.

Its typical Italian crybaby politics really, they are winning everywhere still ona 3 year old bike, why should anyone back down!

There's a certain truth to this. Ducati is the only team that has consistently ran a full factory squad in WSBK. Those teams that used to turn up at Sugo were the full factories - remember Kitagawa and Ryo finishing 1-2 in 1998 on Suzukis (and Mladin qualifying the Yoshimura bike second at Laguna that year), while Goddard and Whitham on the main WSBK Suzuki team weren't competitive. Sugo was a special case though, the riders did tens of thousands of test laps around there. Besides, US championship Ducatis took 2 wins and a 2nd at Laguna in 1999, ridden by the gifted but tempramental pair of Gobert and Ben Bostrom.

[Gerben24]

Did anybody see Jamie Whithams coverage regarding the Ducati's 1200cc? It looks like Ducati will be allowed to use it next season. They will probably have a limited air intake. I dont know if this will also mean the bike will have less torque, cause the standerd one will have loads! I hope Flamini will get it right.

[Hazza]

This is my backflip:

It was described to me as saying that Ducati can push the envelope if they spend bajillions on super-lightweight components.

And after Monza it's clear the bike ain't got it anymore.

So if they can use an extra 200cc then they can try and keep up with the fours, and not spend mega bucks.
(remember, it used to allways be from the very beginning, that a two gets a little more ccs)

And finally, according to Flammini "Ducati are building a 1200cc street bike, our series should model what is on the show room floor. (paraphrased)"

[jhansen]

I wouldn't say the 999 "aint got it anymore." It is still a competitive bike at many of the circuits.

As for 1200cc, their new bike is the 1098. Let them run with 100cc more capacity and that's it.

My concern is, what's to stop Ducati from spending the dollars to be competitive? They're the only full on factory effort and they will do what it takes to push their bikes forward like any factory effort would.

[sr230772]

let them take their toys,they have known the rules for long enough.admitedly wsbk rules do tend to evole,but another 200cc with that amount of torque no one wiil stand a chance you can put weight retrictions and air intakes on but they wont stop the torque(quote ronald ten kate)

[Gerben24]

Originally Posted by jhansen

I wouldn't say the 999 "aint got it anymore." It is still a competitive bike at many of the circuits.

Trouble is, you can't buy that bike in the supermarket anymore. And as Hazza says, according Flamini the series should model what is on the show room floor.

[chunder]

So Ducati are pushing their new bike which as it stands cant run in the series unless Flamm changes the rules will they no doubt will as Ducati have probably said they will buidl customer bikes as they did with the 996998 a few yeras back, thereby supplementing the rather sparse privateer grid.

Horses for courses

[Hazza]

The issue is not the Ducati flogging everyone, it's WSBK not then reigning them in, like they've failed to do.

Because if it escalates to where Honda make annother two just to win, or they bump up the size for the fours, then it's just stupid.

[jhansen]

Originally Posted by Hazza

The issue is not the Ducati flogging everyone, it's WSBK not then reigning them in, like they've failed to do.

Because if it escalates to where Honda make annother two just to win, or they bump up the size for the fours, then it's just stupid.

Exactly, where does it end, Hyabussa's and ZX14's? Warning sign, slippery slope ahead...

[Dani Filth]

you can say .. 4 cyls max 1000cc .. that means no 1300 or 1400 ..
2 cyls . max 1100 . but with restrictor or something to make it as fast as the 4cyl 1000cc

[Hazza]

'Soup are reporting they'll stick a bunch of lead weights in the bottom to keep 'em slow.


...Untill Ducati protest...

[Hazza]

Originally Posted by Soup

People say why give Ducati the extra 200cc if they are still winning with a 1000cc twin, but at the moment it has the extra tuning regulations in its favour. We are prepared to have a weight penalty on the bike, plus we are prepared to allow air restrictors on the bike, plus if after 3 or 4 races we see that the situation is advantageous to the fours we would like there to be a review of the situation regarding weight or air restrictors.
So basically we have a new 1098 bike, which is our new flagship superbike on the road, which competes well with the Japanese fours and we want to race that bike in World Superbike. There was an ultimatum but it was to a certain extent a way of clearing up the lack of a decision in this field. We think the decision has already been rubber stamped and it will be made known at the MSMA meeting at Mugello.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/...sinterview.htm

[jhansen]

I'm confused. If their production bike is a 1098, why ask for 1200ccs? Oh wait, because they can...

[racer69]

They will be required to build a certain number of road-going 1200cc (or whatever capacity they want to race at) bikes so it can be homologated (basically it'll be a homologation special).

[Hazza]

Their new street bike is 1098

[racer69]

Yes but they'll have to build a certain number (1000 or something i think has been thrown around) of 1200cc bikes (based on the 1098) for it to be legal to be raced in World Superbike.

That is part of the reason for the May deadline, so they can build the bikes and develop the race versions for next year.

[jhansen]

And here it is:

http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~5~id~150523.htm

[Hazza]

Looks like a 998...which is good.

[Gerben24]

I hate to say it, but it is a stunning looking bike.