Rossi and Ducati Claim Superbikes are too Prototype
Before Ducati announced they had signed Valentino Rossi to their MotoGP effort for 2011 and before Ducati announced they were leaving World Superbikes next year, it seems the pair were already aligned on at least one issue. First Rossi and now Ducati themselves have gone on record claiming that Superbikes have now drifted too far from their original production based formula. Apparently they have become too prototype!
Rossi came to be riding a factory Yamaha R1 as a result of his Mugello injury. Since testing his M1 was out of the question (due to MotoGP testing regulations) Valentino twice rode the R1 and seemed to enjoy it! As World Superbikes become more sophisticated the line between them and pure MotoGP machinery is beginning to blur. Perhaps that’s what prompted Valentino to make his remarks.
“For me, the problem is that the Superbikes are not the normal street bikes like in the rules, but are prototypes.”
link: Moto Matters
Ducati CEO Gabriele del Torchio agrees making the following comment when announcing that the factory would not wield a factory team next year.
“Recently the Superbike World Championship, according to the current regulations, has been interpreted as moving more towards competition between prototypes rather than for bikes derived from production machines. This has led to an increase in costs, both for the manufacturers and the teams participating in the championship. This picture does not correlate with the current worldwide economic situation, which has made the securing of sponsorship even more difficult.”
link: Ducati Corse
Del Torchio was clearly miffed at the cam gear drive that Aprilia has used on their RSV4 racer since the Miller Motorsports Park round referring to a bending of the rules. In comments he made in clarifying exactly what Ducati will be doing next year in Superbikes, he made it clear that in his view the place for rampant technology and innovation was MotoGP not World Superbikes.
“MotoGP is a training ground for technology and experimentation that then gets transferred to production, as in the case of traction control. Superbike needs to return to its roots – there’s no need for official teams and we’ve demonstrated that winning with private teams with Corser and Polen. So we’re going to pass on our efforts to private teams. Ours is a couragious choice which will contribute to rediscovering the real character of the two world championships.”
link: Two Wheels Blog
Ducati News Today believes that the future of World Superbikes is likely a move closer to Supersport spec than true Superbikes in essence following the trend that first began in national championships.
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