Ducati Pulls out of AMA Superbike

Heavy-Dee · 08-22-2006, 9:34 AM

BDA116 · 08-22-2006, 10:00 AM

Yeah, it sucks to see another factory team quit. And just as Yamadog will be getting back into Superbikes next year. It would have been nice to have them all back finally.
But then again with an added, what, 4 or so bikes as Yamaha's team has way too many riders, they are staring down the barrel of CE-esque finishes next year at best.
They'd have to invest a bunch of money in making the bikes more competitive and paying for riders that can actually compete as well.
Money draining ventures with no results can't last too many years before major changes.
It really would make things much easier for all factories if the technical rules were the same across the board for AMA and WSBK - even the British and Japanese series' as well.
Except the tire thing. Let them still choose that.

luvtolean · 08-22-2006, 12:32 PM

Yeah, a consistent rulebook would be nice...

Baketech · 08-22-2006, 12:47 PM

But seriously, how can the rulebook NOT be fubared and still allow an outdated configuration to compete...

luvtolean · 08-22-2006, 12:49 PM

I know Duc has the tradition of twins...but maybe stop giving twins breaks to make them competitive and force Ducati to go the way of the Desmocidici...

Baketech · 08-22-2006, 12:52 PM

Sounds like that approach didn't work, they just quit...

luvtolean · 08-22-2006, 12:53 PM

Yeah...but on the world stage they're letting the things go to 1200cc...if they were forced out of all series by a standard rulebook...they'd have to rethink their plan.

Baketech · 08-22-2006, 12:55 PM

Nah...they'd just bring back Phawgerty to destroy the field using his legendary corner speed...

phobiaphobe · 08-22-2006, 12:58 PM

Phuck Ducati. They had their heyday when the rules favored twins.

In the words of Gordon Lightfoot:

Baby step up or step back.

Crash · 08-22-2006, 1:10 PM

The technology to make a twin on par with an in-line four just doesn't lend it's self to a competitive package. I agree, maybe they need to abondon the twin for a competitive series and use their hertiage for consumer bikes and Itailan exotic.

For racing they need to step out of their box and build something else. Sucks, but I agree that they've had their way with the rule book for years.

sheepofblue · 08-22-2006, 1:27 PM

AMA should have a twins class for large air cooled AND watercooled liters

phobiaphobe · 08-22-2006, 1:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

AMA should have a twins class for large air cooled AND watercooled liters

So if they currently allow a 1250cc a/c twin in SS, how big would Superbike allow? 2200cc's?

A twins class would be cool but could they fill the grandstands?

luvtolean · 08-22-2006, 1:35 PM

Air cooled?

That's the NASCAR of motorcycle technology...

sheepofblue · 08-22-2006, 1:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

So if they currently allow a 1250cc a/c twin in SS, how big would Superbike allow? 2200cc's?

A twins class would be cool but could they fill the grandstands?

Move ALL twins to this class. Just a thought. Of course I am biased

phobiaphobe · 08-22-2006, 1:46 PM

You could race the Ascot.

BDA116 · 08-22-2006, 1:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

Move ALL twins to this class. Just a thought. Of course I am biased

And what?
Run a Ducati Cup?
They wouldn't want anything to do with that, either.
The AMA already needs to re-do their support class structure. No need to add an event nobody would watch and no factories would be involved in.

Baketech · 08-22-2006, 2:05 PM

Vintage...

gt702 · 08-22-2006, 2:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baketech

Vintage...

No need to get personal there

With all of the technical know how out there, someone should be able to come up with a formula to make different configurations work and be reasonably compatible. They were reasonably close before they mucked it all up; maybe not a 750-4 vs. 1000-twins formula, but something closer to that would work. Weight (with rider) and aerodynamics should also work into the formula.

sheepofblue · 08-22-2006, 2:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

You could race the Ascot.

I would love to get some proper tires on it and get on a dirt track with it

. On pavement the front brakes are lacking a bit though...

gt702 · 08-22-2006, 2:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

I would love to get some proper tires on it and get on a dirt track with it

. On pavement the front brakes are lacking a bit though...

Front brakes on an Ascot?

Why do you need them?

The Ascot doesn't go that fast and it is light and handles great.

Just throw it in at the end of the straight. Brakes just slow you down and hurt your lap times.

Crash · 08-22-2006, 2:52 PM

Will their depature make the AMA even less interesting?

It was mentioned that the AMA needs to revamp their class structure and I agree 100%. There is no reason that anything other than Superbike and Supersport should have factory involvment. FX, Superstock, etc... should all be the folks who are trying to be the next Miguel or Maldin.

Ducati leaving gives the AMA less credibility as a serious organization and increases the sentiment that they don't know how to govern a series. Granted Ducati needs to do something about their bikes, but the AMA is partly responsible.