But Ren, we've been there done that. The twins used to have a 250cc advantage, it got taken off them. Ducati cry we're not playing anymore unless you let us win again without us spending so much money
on the engine configuration of our choice because we're not building a format to suit the current rules. They should have got a big FU!
They shouldn't have even been allowed to race last year, the rules clearly state it must be a current production model which the 999 wasn't last year. Again, let's cut them some slack.
It even shits me they still call it a 1098 when it's not the engine capacity they're racing with. :rolleyes
I know all about the advantages and disadvantages of V2's vs I4 theoretical and practical, my last 3 bikes were 750/4 1000/2 1000/4.
Ducati built a 4 to compete in MotoGP, if running a twin is so important to them, why aren't they doing it there?
2nd race ever with the new engine and they take 2,3,4,5,6 the series is going to be so boring, just like 2003 (When the Ducati factory was the only factory team to race that season - :rolleyes)
Anyway - I doubt we'll see eye to eye on the issue
:cheers
(Ducati have always built highly strung expensive engines. When they were racing back in the 740/4 vs 1000/2 and Honda decided to join them to beat them, Honda beat them with 2000km throw away cranks against Ducati 500km throw away cranks).
^^^^^^^First of all you can't compare what is developed in Moto-GP. That is a
prototype series. If that was your argument than where is Honda's V4, or Suzuki's? Where are the Japs fours? Those engine confg's are based on a whole different set of needs for a bike. Like it needs to rev to 20,000rpm.... something a 1000cc twin will prob never do.
Also, you can't compare a huge factory effort like Honda's to Ducati. Honda has so much more money to do testing and research. Ducati still bases a lot of what they do on theory and calculations, even in Moto-Gp. Honda has 10 times the budget that Ducati has.
World Superbike is a production series, and therefore should be based on production bikes. We all know that a 1000cc V-twin will never be as powerful as a I-4. Sure one could argue that Ducati chose that engine configuration and it should deal with it. But what are the Japanese so scarred about?! Just 'cause they can't dominate?
Everyone is pointing a finger at Ducati asking for a bit more displacement, but no one is pointing to the fact that the I-4's have been dominating the field for years. Would you rather the series not include twins? Than it really would not be World superbike, it be World Japanbike.
If the Japanese saw an advantage in racing V-twins than they would do it. They've done it before. They don't really care what kind of engine is used. Ducati on the other hand follows a rich tradition. They race what they sell. They've always sold V-twins so that is what they race, it's their heritage.
The big reason Ducati won so many WSBK champions is that they got on the ball early with traction control. They saw they were at a disadvantage and they spent the money to develop the system. Guess what? All the Japanese factories bitched till they were blue in the face claiming that Ducati again had an unfair advantage. So everyone started using TC and the Jap's started winning again(big surprise)
Ducati has to defend themselves cause they run twins. Everyone else runs fours so it's literally one vs. the rest. Why is the performance bar set by the fours?!? how come it's all based on what is better for the Japanese factories?!? That is not fair....
Motorcycle-Usa.com pointed this out in an article about the new 1098R:
"...The rules are set-up so that Twins will be subjected to a 13 lb (6kg) weight penalty and the use of air restrictor plates which can increase or decrease the level of performance based on the results during the 2008 World Superbike season. If it's too dominant right out of the gate then the smaller restrictor plates will be used to level the playing field. Conversely, if they get spanked, then larger restrictor plates will open things up in an effort to close the gap on the In-Lines. Pay close attention in the upcoming months as to how this will all play out - it's sure to be intriguing...."
You see, it's all in an effort to
level the playing field. Upping the twins displacement does just that. The new fours just make too much power compared to twins of the same displacement.
999R-140ish HP out of the box.
ZX10-R-180ish out of the box.
Both 1000cc displacement but one is at a serious disadvantage, no?
We might only be able to agree on one thing and that is that we disagree.
:cheers
