Ducati will be leaving AMA superbike. Translated from Italian:

The Ducati abandons the Superbike American the Ducati is prepared to abandon the Superbike Championship AMA. To the base of the decision, reasons of return and costs. "true E', of it we are speaking - Paul Ciabatti has confirmed us by telephone, responsible of the Superbike - the problem is that the Superbike AMA, for via of the movements on the territory American, coast nearly how much the World-wide SBK. The regulations, moreover, are various on some points, and this obligates to us to line up one various way from that one of Troy Bayliss for Neil Hodgson and Ben Bostrom. We cannot, as an example, take part to level of primary, for more we must use a heavier drive shaft, to scapito of the performances ". Currently the official team in the championship AMA (American Motorcycle Association) is the Ducati Parts Unlimited. "the engagement has become economically important, but it is not only this, is the human engagement - Ciabatti continues - in fact we must allocate in America one of our technicians, the engineer Gabriel Maccio. The resources of the Ducati are not infinite... and then there is the issue of the market. Currently we sell in the USA approximately 9000 pieces. The market is in increase, but we must also hold account that in Italy we have put approximately 100 persons in unemployment compensation. There are of the equilibriums to respect. The championship American is expensive also from the point of view of engages of the pilots, indeed, quite more than that Superbike, under this aspect, inasmuch as we are speaking about figures comprised between 700,000 and 1,4 million dollars ". Insomma, has not been taken some decision, but the Ducati travels towards the abandonment of the world-wide Superbike American. For, obviously, continuing to being competitive where it counts: in the MotoGP and the iridata Superbike. "- Ciabatti concludes - we already think that our presence winning in these two categories can be sufficient".

For me the AMA series just became that little bit less interesting...


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

interesting...

The following release is from Ducati North America:

Ducati North America to offer 150 limited edition Superbikes based on Bostrom’s and Hodgson’s AMA Superbike machines

Cupertino, CA – July 26, 2006 – Ducati North America celebrates competition in the AMA Superbike series with the announcement of a limited edition 2007 Ducati 999s Team USA edition.

The early release 2007 model Superbike was unveiled to the public on Ducati Island during the Red Bull USGP weekend, which was held at Laguna Seca Raceway. The Superbike will be limited in production to 150 units, and each one will bear the autographs of team racers Neil Hodgson and Ben Bostrom on the tail section.

Combining innovative technology and top-level components such as Ohlins suspension, the 999s Team USA edition continues the winning spirit shared by Ducati riders and racers throughout the world. The 999s Team USA edition is closely based on the race bikes used by the Bostrom brothers and Neil Hodgson during the 2005 and 2006 AMA Superbike seasons.

The 2007 Ducati 999s Team USA edition is powered by the 143 HP 999cc Testastretta motor and has a MSRP of $19,995. The motorcycle will be available for sale at Ducati dealers throughout North America beginning in August, 2006.

All Team USA edition 999s are built exclusively for the North American market. For more information, including detailed specifications, please visit: http://www.ducatiusa.com.

 

********. And just when I was thinking about buying a Hypermotard.

 

Wow.

I'm with G. That's some ****.

 

I'd wait till it gets a little more confirmation from something like Superbikeplanet.com. There wasn't a direct link to where that was originally nabbed from was there Schu (meaning the poster of AF.com)? It doesn't really give the source other than it was translated

 

why is the limited bike 3k and change less than the normal 999s when it has the same or similar stuff?

 

That sucks.

I think all the 999's are discounted right now. 1098's are on the way! Wonder how much power they will make.

 

1098's what??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vietbiker &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">1098's what??</TD></TR></TABLE>

Supposedly the next Ducati superbike will be a 1200 but I've heard the 1098 number thrown around. I'm thinking it will be an 1198, it would be stupid of Ducati to leave another 100 cc of displacement on the table if WSBK was willing to allow a 1200 cc twin.

 

http://superbikeplanet.com/2006/Aug/060802u.htm

Not sure what to make of Hodgson's statements regarding his results in AMA SBK - are they really behind the 8-ball from the start (1000cc twin vs. 1000cc I4's with the same prep level for both)? I dont know enough about the regs... would be interesting to see him on a suzuki SBK, but I think he will stay with Ducati (either in AMA or WSBK).

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by soup &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Desmo No Mo: Is This The Last Year For Ducati In US Superbike?
ducati's future in us superbike in peril?
by dean adams
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
It's been a closely-kept secret for the past month that Ducati is seriously considering whether they will have a Superbike team in the US next season.

Company execs said at the recent USGP at Laguna Seca that the high cost of racing in the US and the fact that Ducati must build special bikes to race here—not of the same spec at WSBK machinery—are the main motivators for them to end their racing effort in the US.

Ducati's US racing team is operated by the Parts Unlimited Ducati effort which is based in Atlanta. When asked at the Utah round of the US series if his team expected to be racing in 2007, team owner Terry Greggoricka said he hoped to be racing with Ducati next year, but would be racing in '07 regardless. It's known there is interest from other manufacturers to join with the Greggoricka-run team for 2007, however the team seems intent to try and stay the course with Ducati.

While the loss of Ducati from the US Superbike paddock would be a gargantuan hole, the loss of Neil Hodgson from US tracks might actually be equally as large. His future in America is just as questionable as Ducati's.

While Hodgson has joined with a US management group to explore his 2007 options in both the US and abroad, it's nearly a foregone conclusion that the Briton will be back in World Superbike next year. The current direct from Italy rumor is sugesting that Ducati will run two teams in '07 WSBK, with Hodgson on a team run by former Ducati champion and Superbike king, Carl Fogarty.

In less than two seasons here in America, Hodgson has become a popular rider on the US Superbike scene. Losing him to another series would be a tough blow to the stature of the American national series.

Hodgson recently told British reporters that he welcomes a return to a factory team in a world championship series and is tired of finishing poorly in AMA racing. He also stated much of the reason for his poor finishes is because of the technical rules in AMA racing. Hodgson has won one race thus far in his short AMA career.

Ducati sources say that their wish is that the 999s being raced in AMA be of the same specification as the ones being raced in World Superbike.

Possibly the most ironic detail of this situation is that the Parts Unlimited Ducati Superbikes appeared quite competitve at Laguna Seca--at least Hodgson did--when he finished on the podium for the first time this season. It's no secret that Ducati has traction control that they use in WSBK and are now using in US Superbike. Ducati used traction control at Laguna Seca for the first time and finished on the podium. Are they about to quit racing in the US just as they regain race-winning compettivness?

While no final decision on their 2007 US racing plans has been made, a quick dip into the water to test the current seems to indicate rough water ahead for the legions of Ducati fans in the US.

ENDS

</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Well with equal prep the twin is down on power, that's why in WSBK they allow the twins to open up their ports a lot more and get bigger throttle bodies. It'd be a shame to see Ducati leave SBK just when it was about to be all 5 sportbike manufacturers competing in AMASBK.

It's also a shame that Neil Hodgson was never really able to show what he could do. I don't blame him for leaving though. Maybe we'll get to see Xaus crashing here next year though.

 

The 1098cc would be a parts bin motor. It makes sense because itd be much cheaper and easier to put together than a 1200.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The 1098cc would be a parts bin motor. It makes sense because itd be much cheaper and easier to put together than a 1200. </TD></TR></TABLE>

It seems kinda stupid for them to leave 100 cc on the table. What are they gonna do then, complain and whine that they should have extra allowances because they're running an 1100 cc twin instead of a 1200?

Here's a funny poll on the subject

 

OT:

.RJ: I ressemble that title!

 

You are ill-tempered today?

 

always

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .Ash &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why is the limited bike 3k and change less than the normal 999s when it has the same or similar stuff?</TD></TR></TABLE>

nm; no termi + ecu package.

 

I think Ducati went ahead with the decision before the new displacement rules had been confirmed (have they even been confirmed yet??). This way they could have their more powerful 1100 on the street and run the destroked engine on the track if the rule changes did not go through. In their shoes, I would not want to invest big money in tooling up for a new motor before WSBK rules were finalized.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think Ducati went ahead with the decision before the new displacement rules had been confirmed (have they even been confirmed yet??). This way they could have their more powerful 1100 on the street and run the destroked engine on the track if the rule changes did not go through. In their shoes, I would not want to invest big money in tooling up for a new motor before WSBK rules were finalized. </TD></TR></TABLE>

That's not what they said. In an interview in bike magazine Paolo Ciabatti was saying that they're going to 1200 so their street bikes can match the speed/horsepower of the Japanese 1000's. They were prepared to not race in Superbike at all if the rules didn't go through. Their reasoning is that they'd continue to race in Moto GP anyway. They also said that their company is too small and didn't have the resources to produce a street 1200 and a 1000 in enough numbers to meet homologation requirements.

Personally I think that's stupid. If you wanna compete build a damned V4 and be done with it. Anyone who was gonna buy a Ducati supersport is not all of a sudden not going to buy one because its a V4.

I hope Honda goes out and builds a 1200cc v-twin RC55 or something and whoops their asses. However, I think the more likely scenario is for Honda to build a street legal HRC Fireblade. The HRC president said he would like to do that one day...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMU R1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Personally I think that's stupid. If you wanna compete build a damned V4 and be done with it. Anyone who was gonna buy a Ducati supersport is not all of a sudden not going to buy one because its a V4.</TD></TR></TABLE>actually i would be instantly turned off to the idea of owning a supersport Duc if they went the 4 cyl route. i would be slightly less turned off if it were a V4 instead of an I4, but i would not be as thirsty for the bike none the less.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMU R1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I hope Honda goes out and builds a 1200cc v-twin RC55 or something and whoops their asses. However, I think the more likely scenario is for Honda to build a street legal HRC Fireblade. The HRC president said he would like to do that one day...</TD></TR></TABLE>i pray nightly for either one of these outcomes. i would be in line to get a new honda Vtwin if they ever decided to develop one, although i dont see much reason for them to do it again. also, the idea of a HRC streetbike has been kicked around for a long time and if you ask me it is way overdue. Honda generally makes well rounded bikes while the other 3 from japan always have a more focused bike performance wise. it would be nice to see Honda flex that racing muscle and show it off on the street.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by D Day &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i pray nightly for either one of these outcomes. i would be in line to get a new honda Vtwin if they ever decided to develop one, although i dont see much reason for them to do it again. also, the idea of a HRC streetbike has been kicked around for a long time and if you ask me it is way overdue. Honda generally makes well rounded bikes while the other 3 from japan always have a more focused bike performance wise. it would be nice to see Honda flex that racing muscle and show it off on the street.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The RC30, RC45, and RC51 were all HRC homologation specials, the RC51 being the most tame of the three. I don't know if Honda will do another homologation special since it is a much more expensive proposition than racing a mass-produced bike like the 1000RR. That's really the reason the RC51 is more expensive than the 1000RR even though the RR is a much newer design. The 51 doesn't share a lot of components with other bikes so the unit cost is higher.

What would really be cool is if Honda said, "Okay Ducati, we'll let you have your 1200. We'll go ahead and use oval-pistons...". However I wanna say that oval pistoned engines are not allowed. They certainly aren't allowed in Moto GP.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMU R1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">They certainly aren't allowed in Moto GP.</TD></TR></TABLE> why not?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EGlovr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> why not?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The MSMA (manufacturer's assoc. in Moto GP that makes the rules) collectively ruled against allowing oval pistons (I'll have to look up the actual regulation). I think their reasoning was that it would be too much of an unfair advantage for Honda since they pretty much hold all of the existing oval piston patents.

In the 800cc rules I know they are expressly forbidden. Interestingly enough the Honda NR500 (and a small number of endurance NR750's) was the only racing application to use oval pistons but Formula 1 also preemptively banned oval pistons.

 

We'll see if the little duck on my shoulder is right about this soon enough. A 12oo would be neat tho... I could see Ducati easily selling enough 999's to meet homologation reqs even with a 1098 or 1200 street bike for sale. The raised cap rules may not be in effect until 2008, and in this case for 07 they may be forced to do just that.

 

http://www.superbikeplanet.com...a.htm

*EDIT* Didn't see that it said AIR COOLED, my bad. At least the Triumph info is relevant *EDIT*

Interesting, look at the engine sizes allowed for 4-stroke desmo twin cylinders in FX, then read the note at the end about SBK engine sizes remaining stable through '08.

Think Ducati would go factory in Formula Xtreme?

And, Triumph now has a place to race the 675!

 

http://www.superbikeplanet.com...o.htm

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by soup &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> If I were American Honda I would take the RC51 superbikes out of mothballs, drain the water out of the engines, and fill it back up with engine oil. Use the cylinder blocks as oil reservoirs like Buell uses the swingarms as oil reservoirs. Change the name of the radiator to oil cooler. Issue a press release and say that it is an air/oil cooled engine. And for good measure, I would then call HRC and commission an engine kit to bump the displacement from 1000cc to 1340cc.</TD></TR></TABLE>