Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Ducati get their way, 1200cc for twins in 2008 World Superbike Championship

After consultation with all the parties involved and upon the proposal submitted by the Superbike Commission, the FIM has decided the following amendment and additions to the Superbike World Championship technical rules for 2008.

• Displacement capacities.
o 2 cylinders over 850cc up to 1200cc
o 3 cylinders over 750cc up to 1000cc
o 4 cylinders over 750cc up to 1000cc

• Minimum weights.
o 2 cylinders over 850cc up to 1200cc: 168kg
o 4 cylinders over 750cc up to 1000cc: 162kg

Minimum weight of 2 cylinders over 850cc up to 1200cc will be updated, if needed, during the Championship in steps of ±3kg to 171kg as a maximum and 162kg as a minimum.

• Air-restrictors.
Only 2 cylinders over 850cc up to 1200cc will be fitted with air-restrictors. Initial size will be equivalent to a Ø50mm circular area. Air-restrictors size will be updated, if needed, during the Championship in steps of ±2mm of diameter in a range from equivalent to a Ø46mm circular area to no air-restrictor at all.

• Balance of different motorcycle concepts. Weight limit and then air-restrictors size of 2 cylinders over 850cc up to 1200cc machines will be updated, if needed, during the Championship, by a system analysing the race points obtained.

• Tuning level.
All machines will have the same level of tuning presently applied to 4 cylinders over 750cc up to 1000cc, with the exception of connecting rods that must be standard for 2 cylinders over 850cc up to 1200cc.

• Homologation numbers.
For 2008 and 2009 all manufacturers, irrespective of their total production numbers, will have to produce a minimum of 1000 bikes in order to get an homologation.
For 2010 onwards the minimum production number will be increased to 3000 bikes.

The complete set of the new 2008 Superbike technical rules will be issued by FIM during next week.

Boooo... they can't make a decent 1000 What stops ZX14 to join the race then

Where is the compensation for the triples????
They have to run the same as the inline fours so why do the Ducatis get special treatment??
I forgot the Ducati cup would not be the same with out them.

javaman wrote:Boooo... they can't make a decent 1000 What stops ZX14 to join the race then

As Ive said a few time already in different places:

Ducati have nothing to prove, they can build a kick arse 4 cylinder bike if they want to - are you aware of MotoGP?

They want to continue producing V-Twins for their roadbikes and are finding it hard/expensive to get the 999R to a level of tune that makes it competitive against the inline-4's. There is no way a 1000cc V-twin can be developed to produce the same power as a 1000cc I-4 (im guessing due to volumetric efficiency issues) hence the rule change.

If it wasnt for Troy Bayliss the 999R wouldnt be at the pointy end of the field. But yeah with another 200cc's on board for the 1098R I hope the racing is still good, i.e. the dukes dont run away with it.

If it makes for better racing im all for it.

Nucci wrote:
They want to continue producing V-Twins for their roadbikes and are finding it hard/expensive to get the 999R to a level of tune that makes it competitive against the inline-4's. There is no way a 1000cc V-twin can be developed to produce the same power as a 1000cc I-4 (im guessing due to volumetric efficiency issues) hence the rule change.

The VTWINS have advantages in terms of Torque, Slim profile, weight, etc ! As for hard/expensive isn't that what racing is about ? Otherwise they just use my bike

javaman wrote: The VTWINS have advantages in terms of Torque, Slim profile, weight, etc ! As for hard/expensive isn't that what racing is about ? Otherwise they just use my bike

In regard to weight - from the OP:

Minimum weights.
o 2 cylinders over 850cc up to 1200cc: 168kg
o 4 cylinders over 750cc up to 1000cc: 162kg

Minimum weight of 2 cylinders over 850cc up to 1200cc will be updated, if needed, during the Championship in steps of ±3kg to 171kg as a maximum and 162kg as a minimum.

Slim profile? That would hardly be advantageous to the point to knock back a capacity increase for twins.

Nucci wrote:

javaman wrote:Boooo... they can't make a decent 1000 What stops ZX14 to join the race then

As Ive said a few time already in different places:

Ducati have nothing to prove, they can build a kick arse 4 cylinder bike if they want to - are you aware of MotoGP?

They want to continue producing V-Twins for their roadbikes and are finding it hard/expensive to get the 999R to a level of tune that makes it competitive against the inline-4's. There is no way a 1000cc V-twin can be developed to produce the same power as a 1000cc I-4 (im guessing due to volumetric efficiency issues) hence the rule change.

If it wasnt for Troy Bayliss the 999R wouldnt be at the pointy end of the field. But yeah with another 200cc's on board for the 1098R I hope the racing is still good, i.e. the dukes dont run away with it.
If it makes for better racing im all for it.

If the Dukes don't run away with it they will just complain again until they get the rules changed to their advantage.

One would think (and hope) that Ducati now know the danger to the sport if their bikes (or anyone elses) become to dominant. Hopefully this works out to be very even.

One issue that may become more prevalent is electronics, as the gap between teams with different budgets will widen....

saw that last night... at least if the dukes do end up more powerful, they can lift the airbox restrictions ... maybe...

while ur racing apples against oranges, u will always have trouble making them equal..but who wants equal anyway??

one set of rules, they all play by them... honda built a twin to take the title of ducati..kwaka,suzi and yamy can do the same if they see fit...

Suzuki did - TL1000R - trouble was the GSXR750 outperformed it

Punisher wrote:Suzuki did - TL1000R - trouble was the GSXR750 outperformed it

thats right...thats funny as..they built a bike to take the SBK championship of ducati, but it wasnt as good as there then current bike...lol

somebody fucked up!!