Ducati News Today

Last years AMA Pro American Superbike championship had something pretty unusual, races being won by teams other than Yosimura Suzuki!! Josh Hayes impressed on the new cross plane crank Yamaha R1, but so too did Ducati’s Team Foremost Larry Pegram, who stood on the top step 3 times during the year on his near factory spec but privateer Ducati 1098R. The truth is that almost anyone could build this 200mph machine, as long they have the money, about $100,000.

Pegram first fired a shot across his competitors bows during practice for last year’s Daytona event when his Ducati 1098R nearly hit 200mph on the banking during practice. This shouldn’t be any surprise. Unlike the Japanese machines which were reigned in for the 2009 season with respect to the changes allowed in the engine, Pegram’s racer is essentially a factory engine without the required World Superbike air restrictor. The only major difference is the lack of a close ratio gearbox (stock is required in American Superbike).

“All the parts that aren’t stock, anyone can buy right from the Ducati Performance catalog,” Pegram says. “Except for the ECU, and you can buy that straight from Marelli. Anyone could build this bike for $100,000, including the $40,000 stock bike.” How closely does Pegram’s kit-bike resemble Noriyuki Haga’s World Superbike machine? Very closely, it turns out. “Motor-wise, our bike is so similar,” Pegram explains. “The factory team runs different cases. They’re basically the same, but have a different oil window. They use a crank that’s pre-balanced for the kit pistons. We run the same pistons, but balance the crank ourselves. They have a different head that can fit an air restrictor; otherwise the head is the same. They use a kit close-ratio transmission; we have to use the stocker. That’s it. Different parts, but very close in spec.”

link: Motorcyclist Magazine

While Larry’s Ducati isn’t far removed from Noriyuki Haga‘s factory World Superbike spec machine in the engine department, his bike is more modestly specced in the chassis due to the different regulations. 17″ wheels are used instead of 16.5″ ones but the brakes and forks are lower spec.

Still this package in Larry’s hands was good enough to beat Mat Mladin in a straight fight last year and this is something that bothers Pegram a little. You see he is the only rider competing with a Ducati and some fans are claiming the speed of his bike is making the difference. Larry would like someone else to try so he could show that his skill is a large part of the Ducati resurgence in AMA racing.

“I would love for someone else to put together a Ducati just like mine,” Pegram says. “Some guys think my success all comes down to the bike, and having someone else out there would show that’s just not true.”

link: Motorcyclist Magazine

Pegram has high hopes for the 2010 season where Larry has declared he is shooting for the number one spot. We won’t have long to wait. The AMA Pro American Superbike championship kicks off in Daytona, March 3-5.

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