Ducati advantage in WSBK (may be spoiler)

Big Kahuna · 02-25-2008, 6:27 PM

I know it's the first race and all, and I understand that the new 1098 is hampered by an added weight requirement, but does anyone else feel that the new 1098 Ducatis may have an advantage this year?

I understand that Ducati has a bunch of legendary riders on these bikes, but so does the other teams.

I don't know how many of you have ridden with or on these bikes, but they have definitely bridged the gap between the in-line and the twin deficiency. The new 1098 is a beast and I feel that it should be held to the same standards as the 1000cc in-lines.

Race 1
1 Ducati 1098R
2 Ducati 1098R
3 Yamaha YZF R1
4 Ducati 1098R
5 Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8
6 Honda CBR1000RR
7 Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8
8 Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8
9 Ducati 1098R
10 Ducati 1098R

Race 2
1 Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8
2 Ducati 1098R
3 Ducati 1098R
4 Ducati 1098R
5 Ducati 1098R
6 Ducati 1098R
7 Yamaha YZF R1
8 Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8
9 Ducati 1098R
10 Honda CBR1000RR

Phadreus · 02-25-2008, 7:25 PM

The thought of pentalizing Duc's kills me. Should they pentalize every manufacturer that wins a championship then? (of course this is hypathetical and I know you are not endoursing the concept of slowing them down, I'm just ranting...

). Should the AMA Pentalize Suzuki for the last several year's Superbike dominance?

Bigtoe · 02-25-2008, 7:30 PM

These are typical results in WSB. Have been for years.

nedro · 02-25-2008, 7:30 PM

Penalize. Penalize!
Umm, 1098cc VS 1000cc.

Just put them on level ground and let them race.
I retract everything I said about the 1098 before the season started. I really thought Japan would have an answer for them.

Bigtoe · 02-25-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nedro

Penalize. Penalize!
Umm, 1098cc VS 1000cc.

Just put them on level ground and let them race.
I retract everything I said about the 1098 before the season started. I really thought Japan would have an answer for them.

It's not Japan. It's the FIM body regulating them.

CityTurbo · 02-26-2008, 7:03 AM

Doesn't the special model of the 1098 also have another 90cc? Close to 1200cc total.

spiral · 02-26-2008, 2:52 PM

I think the new 1098 has a definite advantage. They didn't really go will at losail but this year they were right up there. I think Bayliss doesn't have much to worry about.

Ducati moaned about not having the power with the 999 and how it was costing a packet to develope the bike they will now spend the same on putting the 1098 0n the top step.

ptlcb1 · 02-26-2008, 9:03 PM

I just watched the races today. Ducs, R1s, GSXRs, were all towards the front until the end of the races. I think its more of a race setup issue. There is no doubt, the 1098 would be allowed to race. Of course with the extra displacement, the FIM added weight to them, which was the right thing to do. There are some great riders on those 1098s. What will be interesting to keep an eye on, as the season goes on, is how the 1098s place to the R1s of Haga and Corser. They were on R1s last year as well. So they are like the control riders. If the 1098s smoke them all season long, them the FIM needs to re-evaluate their displacement formula. The spoiler that made things look great was Nieto on the gsxr! Honda has all new riders and new bikes. Unfortunately, its going to take those guys some time to get up front. It would have been interesting if Toseland was back. Its going to be a great season! Ducati did its homework on the 1098. Its obvious a great platform to start with. Only time will tell if they are going to dominate this series.

roadtrip1098 · 07-21-2008, 11:42 AM

I can't believe that people are bickering about any advantage the twins may have over the I-4's. To me it makes no sense at all to argue about it. The other teams can get those same advantages by going (back) to twins. That's how it was back in the day anyways. I'm sure that there are also people that are going to pounce on this saying Ducati should develop an I-4, I only ask that you understand that if the 1098 had been a flop this would most likely be the last year Ducati would be around. Can you imagine if Honda put have the money they dumped into the RR into developing the RC51? I love Ducati and all, but I think that Honda has the R&D capabilities to better the Duc. What about Suzukis GS? There are twin platforms, time to take advantage of the rules and bring them back.

nedro · 07-21-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadtrip1098

I can't believe that people are bickering about any advantage the twins may have over the I-4's. To me it makes no sense at all to argue about it. The other teams can get those same advantages by going (back) to twins. That's how it was back in the day anyways. I'm sure that there are also people that are going to pounce on this saying Ducati should develop an I-4, I only ask that you understand that if the 1098 had been a flop this would most likely be the last year Ducati would be around. Can you imagine if Honda put have the money they dumped into the RR into developing the RC51? I love Ducati and all, but I think that Honda has the R&D capabilities to better the Duc. What about Suzukis GS? There are twin platforms, time to take advantage of the rules and bring them back.

Or....make the Ducatis run 1000cc.
Or....let the I-4s run 1100cc.
Problem solved...

denzee · 07-21-2008, 1:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CityTurbo

Doesn't the special model of the 1098 also have another 90cc? Close to 1200cc total.

You are correct CityTurbo. Ducati has a 200cc displacement advantage. It is an 1198 and it is available on the showroom floor. It's the 1098R. Big $$$. The only way the 999 Duc was able to compete with the inline fours prior was to use exotic engine internals thus elevating the costs astronomically. With the 1198 they are able to use now similar engine internals as the fours with the exception of the crankshaft.
I do see that they have advantage as well but I hope SBK will work it out. Either way you gotta love Bayliss.

spiral · 07-21-2008, 4:49 PM

Yep bayliss is the man. World superbikes is about Ducati if its not going their way they crib and moan. Its as simple as that. If the japanese really want to why don't they go V5 or 1200 cc superbike with 4 cylinders. Force Ducati to move from twins. Ohhhh wait if they do that we might see Stoner in motogp type dominance when Ducati go V4. I don't like to see dominace, it gets boring, but you have to hand it to Ducati. They know how to build a race bike for sure!!!

macca9540 · 07-21-2008, 5:03 PM

Did you people know that the Dukes have air intake restrictors fitted by the FIM as well as the weight penalty. Also call me biased but "It's not the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog" that helps as well, just look at Rossi with the Yamaha. Stoner has the faster bike but Rossi just keeps proving he is a freak of a rider.

spiral · 07-21-2008, 6:01 PM

Yep know about the air in take restrictions. Still think ducati have an advantage in SBK racing, world and british. They also have a knack for finding a rider who 'clicks' with their bike. Stoner...motogp Bayliss....WSBK Byrne... BSK. Clicking with the bike is no good unless the thing is good enough, and the ducati is even with its restrictions.

TKDmasterZ · 07-22-2008, 8:33 PM

It appears that the Duc's have some advantage, but not at all circuits. Having Bayliss riding it seems to be the biggest advantage they currently have. Whatever the case may be, most of World SBK races this season have been pretty exciting to watch and have been difficult to predict who'll be on the podium (except for Bayliss). I like it!