Now convince us your bike isn't competitive

[ArcherWC]

Ducati and Bayliss Destroy Phillip Island Lap Record

By Dirck J. Edge

Ducati's Troy Bayliss loves Phillip Island. There is nothing surprising about the fact that he holds the WSB lap record (an all-time best of 1:31.9 seconds prior to today). Testing at Phillip Island this weekend with several other WSB teams, Ducati and Bayliss made quite a statement.

Throwing down a lap at 1:31.0 seconds -- nearly a second quicker than the fastest ever -- Bayliss not only destroyed the existing lap record, he demoralized his competition, all of which resided more than one second behind him. A fluke? After all, how can the "tapped out" 999cc Ducati v-twin superbike be that much quicker than the still developing four cylinder machines? Unfortunately for the fluke theorists, it was Bayliss' Ducati teammate with the second quickest time -- a 1:32.1.

As testing continues, perhaps Bayliss and Ducati will show signs of weakness -- but we doubt it.

[Toast]

Yeah, saw that, pretty cool.

I think the time for motoGP bikes is less than a second quicker.

I wonder what they've done to get so much faster...or maybe it's just Bayliss.

[Pwalo]

They must have some uber expensive cases and internals on those beasties.

I wonder how long those thing can hold together for? Guess justlong enough to win.

Do you know if those times were on race tyres?

[Paulus]

I hope this isn't shaping up into a Ducati vs Ducati battle for 2007. A lot of us will lose interest and stop watching again if it does. Doesn't sound like the 4s are terribly competitive but I guess we'll need to watch a few rounds first to see how it pans out.

[McJim]

I wanna Ducati...'nuff said.

[ArcherWC]

I wanna Ducati...'nuff said.

Your tight scottish wallet strings could never maintain one LOL

[McJim]

Your tight scottish wallet strings could never maintain one LOL

Give us a loan of yer Aprilia then.

[James Deuce]

It's one track where high speed stability is everything. Ducati have always been good at that. It's one track out of many, and the other guys won't have stood still either.

[ArcherWC]

Give us a loan of yer Aprilia then.

Put the rego on hold for three months today

[merv]

This story http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/Jan/070115a.htm has him going even quicker on the last day of tests getting down to 1:30.7.

[Les]

According to my sources (motogp.com)...the existing MotoGP lap record for PI was set by Melandri in 05 at 1'30.332 and the outright record is Hayden's last year's qualifying time of 1'29.020

[Finn]

the existing MotoGP lap record for PI was set by Melandri in 05 at 1'30.332

I think their getting confused with his height

[merv]

Interestingly so far that guy Corser is faster than Haga on similar R1 bikes.

A few pics here http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image...nd-test-jan/1/

[gav]

Re, the name of this thread. Ducati have never stated that the 999 wasnt competitive in WSBK trim. Its as a standard road bike that the 999 can't compete with a GSXR1000 or R1 etc. As WSBK is suppose to be about production based bikes, it would make sense for Ducati to be allowed to race a 1200 if the same rules are applied as per state of tuning allowed. At the moment the vee twins are allowed to do alot more to them to make them competitive. Remember how it started to look like a Ducati cup? Where are all the privateer Ducati's if they are so damn good? The teams can't afford to maintain them, before they would lease the race bikes of the Ducati race team and the race team would maintain them and provide factory tuned engines. Ducati no longer offer that as it was getting too expensive. Troy Bayliss is a huge part of why that bike is topping the charts!

[slowpoke]

Re, the name of this thread. Ducati have never stated that the 999 wasnt competitive in WSBK trim. Its as a standard road bike that the 999 can't compete with a GSXR1000 or R1 etc. As WSBK is suppose to be about production based bikes, it would make sense for Ducati to be allowed to race a 1200 if the same rules are applied as per state of tuning allowed. At the moment the vee twins are allowed to do alot more to them to make them competitive. Remember how it started to look like a Ducati cup? Where are all the privateer Ducati's if they are so damn good? The teams can't afford to maintain them, before they would lease the race bikes of the Ducati race team and the race team would maintain them and provide factory tuned engines. Ducati no longer offer that as it was getting too expensive. Troy Bayliss is a huge part of why that bike is topping the charts!

Exactly! The Ducati racebikes are competitive due to the extra mods allowed....but totally uncompetitive on a cost basis as no-one but the factory can afford to race 'em.