Ducati get their way

New Superbike Rules Adopted For '08


This just in from the FIM:

Superbike World Championship

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.

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

 

So for the right to run larger capacity, they get:

-heavier bikes (168kg 2cyl vs 162kg 3&4 cyl) (to be adjusted during the
series if needed)
-air restrictors when the 4 cyl bikes don't have to run them (size to be
adjusted during the series if needed)
-no higher standard of tune than the 4 cyl bikes except the 4cyl bikes are
allowed special conrods, 2cyl to run standard parts

Could there be a chance that it wont be Formula Ducati again, they've had to
accept a few handicaps for the right to go bigger, when the twins had a
capacity advantage before (1000 vs 750-4s) thya also had a weight advantage,
but not this time.

Al

 

I suppose it all hinges on the "to be adjusted during the series if needed".

I wonder who decides, and on what basis?

You'd have to be pretty deft to want to run a duc under those words.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

Do you mean "daft"?

Al

 

Ah dinnae ken whit yer oan aboot

Al

 

Yup! bloody tipsy fingers...

regards,
CrazyCam

 

Makes sense, Ducati IS a v-twin company [like that US brand]

The rule book is the same for everybody, NOT a matter of Ducati
getting its way.

hahahahaonda [who got there lead slashed yesterday....GOLD] are on the
board and agreed to the twin formula, as did the other Japper brands.

The real question is can Ducati/Aussie do the double in both race
catg.?

Frankly, if hahahahonda get humilited [as they currently are] i am all
for it!

Power of SHITBOXS

A

 

Yup. Any manufacturer is free to build a 1200 V-twin, just as Ducati is
free to build a 1000 inline four if they want.

 

Aprilia are in its final test phase of its 4cyl. SBK bike, MV Agusta
too, lots more bikes in the field in 08', going to be even better than
now!

Maybe C10 will show it again?

[So much for the doomsdayers who where crying SBK was finished]

West would HAVE to get a factory ride, would/nt he?Aussies are the
flavour of the month!

A

 

That one should be interesting - Honda will be releasing a V4 CBRthou
next model (08 or 09) supposedly (according to AMCN anyway) - should
be interesting to have a couple of inline 4's against V4's and a
Vtwin.

Damn shame they held the triple to 1000 - they should have given it
1100 I'd love to see Trumpy and Benelli in SBK...

Much as I'd love them to do well, with Foggy in charge - no chance of
them doing anything other than making up the numbers - damn shame
given the start point is a damn good bike (which it should be given
the price differential to it's competitors)

Yeah right. Aussies are not and never have been - any more than
Americans are. If you're not Italian or Spanish you'll struggle to get
a ride. If an Aussie or a Yank can outride the Latins on poorer
machinery then and only then do they get decent kit(1).

JL
(1) Anybody catch the snippet in Crash.net where Hayden got to test
the new chassis that Dani had for the last race and promptly went
faster than him ? Honda really don't want him to win anything do they ?

 

A golden age of Superbikes.

They were talking about a possible MotoGP ride too. I reckon the Yamaha
Supersport team should just add another bike.

 

Would've been the obvious thing you'd think. Gawd, just imagine it.
Triumph, Benelli, MV, Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki...

 

Sure they do...they're just not interested in actually helping him do
it.

HRC are geniuses when it comes to making fast bikes, and complete
idiots when it comes to handling people.

 

Except that Ducati were the only ones that wanted the change.

 

Indeed, how can they race a bike which is obsolete and no longer in
prodcution?

 

he would have to have shit inbetween his ears to take a MotoGP ride
for the rest of this year.. it will lead to nothing... which happens
to most..

Stick with what he has now, win the title next yr in 600's then go to
SBK and blitz it there..

 

Shhhhhhhhh dont tell the fool the facts, it keeps him warm at night...

even mcnews.com.au and most bike websites round the world have the
heading "Shitbox has its way"... they wouldnt ask for these changes if
they didnt have things already way under way....

 

I doubt they'd build an inline 4 but a V4 seemed to be iminent a year or two
ago.

 

Next month's flavour is parsnip!

 

Here's dreaming !!

JL
(Y'never know they might just work it out !)