WSBK Parity issues?

[merv]

Here's some news on homologation rules if ya interested http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/Sep/e/n070927d.htm

Just 3 posts to go to my 5,000 - going well huh - a long termer but steady poster, no racing to big numbers like Hitcher for example.

The other thing interesting about this series is how well Troy Corser is doing after well over a decade at it - go that man.

[slowpoke]

Why don't Ducati just drop the V-twin? If it can not compete on a even keel with the in-line fours then THEY should change!

Why? They are the only manufacturer to fully support the series from go to whoa. Their resources are a drop in the ocean compared to the Japanese juggernaut.

The keel is soon to be even when valve areas are similar and costs are similar. At present Ducati (and anybody else who chooses to run a twin) are competing at a massive cost and horsepower disadvantage.

[Matt Bleck]

Why? They are the only manufacturer to fully support the series from go to whoa. Their resources are a drop in the ocean compared to the Japanese juggernaut.

The keel is soon to be even when valve areas are similar and costs are simialr. At present Ducati (and anybody else who chooses to run a twin) are competing at a massive cost and horsepower disadvantage.

Thats why...... if they want to run a v-twin then thats what you have to do to be competitive... oh or change the rules to suit....

[cowpoos]

are competing at a massive cost and horsepower disadvantage.

cost may be dude....but power...I doubt it!! the trap speeds would argue against that!!!


I think this is fair enough...from a cost point of view...as the machines ducati are running have to be very higly strung to be compeditive with the fours...but I think a provision in the ruling for evening things out more if the duc appears to be alot faster as in what happening with the 750's and restricted fours...the fact that ducati have to run stock crank and rods now will make it interesting...they had better have spent some good money on the oem ones!!! lmao!!

[Devil]

Dunno how correct the figures were, but the replay had on screen graphics stating the ducatis were 194hp, honda's around 204, gsxr around 210 or so, yamahaha's somewhere around 200. The Kwakasucky was in the middle somewhere.

[codgyoleracer]

I owned a 996SPS back in the days when that machine was meant to be the "road bike representation of the SBK machine". That same year I managed to blag a close up view of the offical bike & chat with the people in Carl Fogarty's pit. The machine he was racing IN NO WAY represented the bike I owned (other than in profile). The list of items that were different were, complete front end, rear shock & linkage, frame had bigger tubing, carbon fibre bodywork, brakes, callipers, engine cases (magnesium), Instruments + a whole bunch of other electrickery, exhaust system diameter etc etc. (& there were a lot of etc's). Gawd knows what was different inside the engine. (it red -lined 3000 above my one)
Other than the fact that it was red & looked similar - that was about it !.
I can understand Ducati & all the other manufacturers wanting their machines to "represent" their road going fleet & if this means that their road fleet has to be running at 1200cc to "sort of" compete with the Japanese four cylinder machine on the road then I suppose they have no choice but to allow them. But as Sugalite said the internal engine development is supposidly way less stressed for the same performance than before with the 999.
It will be interesting to see the results - but I suspect that they will want to win just as much as everyone else & devleop the new engine to a very high race spec level yet again - that may at a glance "look like" a road going Ducati - but have a whole heap of fruit inside & out that makes it go a tad better than your average Duke that you ride down to the Dairy.

Hopefully the capacity increase brings some of the other Vee Twin manufacturers out to play.

[denill]

Hopefully the capacity increase brings some of the other Vee Twin manufacturers out to play.

I don't think Honda will want see their Vtwin playing in that sandpit again.

[slowpoke]

cost may be dude....but power...I doubt it!! the trap speeds would argue against that!!!

Don't forget a twin has less frontal area than an across the frame inline 4 and wind drag increases exponentially with speed.....

[TonyB]

I can see the logic behind this decision, but being a pesimist I think we'll see Ducati's stomping all over the others next year.

I realise it was a loooooooong time ago, but back when Ducati won their first WSBK crown, how big was the engine? 851cc (unless they bored it out to 1000cc...did they? I don't know). If the 851 WAS an 851, then way back then they obviously weren't too worried about costs.

I hope it all works out. Maybe it really is just a case of trying to match the production version with the production IL4's, and keeping the race version closer to the one you can acutally buy.

[avgas]

Ducati are really good at whinning.
They have practiced it at WSB for about 20 years now.

[denill]

Ducati are really good at whinning.
They have practiced it at WSB for about 20 years now.

Is that - Winning or Whining?

[slowpoke]

Changes to the Technical Rules for 2008 - Twin cylinders to 1200cc

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.

[avgas]

Is that - Winning or Whining?

all relative,
one year they would whine, next year they would win.

[roogazza]

Why? They are the only manufacturer to fully support the series from go to whoa. Their resources are a drop in the ocean compared to the Japanese juggernaut.

The keel is soon to be even when valve areas are similar and costs are similar. At present Ducati (and anybody else who chooses to run a twin) are competing at a massive cost and horsepower disadvantage.

Hey slowpoke, I see where you are coming from. But the Duc looked pretty strong in the speed department Sunday night, even if it is expensive to run. Gaz.

ps. my bet is the Duc will be real strong next year and a consistant winner ?

[cowpoos]

Don't forget a twin has less frontal area than an across the frame inline 4 and wind drag increases exponentially with speed.....

errr....not always the case dude....depends on how the bikes was designed areo dynamically...do a camparo to the original busa and a K3 thou...busa had high top speed...with a bucket load more frontal area...k3 accelerated faster and had more horse power....

anyway...but for the most part you are probally right about the frontal area...but I bet theres F' all in it power wise!