1200cc Twins Legal in AMA NOW!

M

mr217shoestospare

New member
COMPETITION BULLETIN
TO: All Road Race Licensed Riders and Season Credential Holders

FROM: AMA Racing

DATE: January 17, 2008

SUBJECT: Road Race Supplemental Rules for 1000cc
 
Does anyone else think Ducati are getting away with murder here.If the 1098 was good enough to win the world superstock it's bound to be compettitive in superbike and what happened to "we race on sunday what we sell on monday",can't see too many 1098R's being sold especially on a monday.
 
What...that's out of left field. I did NOT see that coming.

I don't really think they are getting away with THAT much. From what I've noticed, all a manufacturer has to do is prove the bike they are trying to get to pass has the same potential as what is currently racing. In my opinion, I think a 1200cc l-twin doesn't have much more of a potential advantage of the I-4's.
 
Now, look I think it's only fair. I-4 make more horse power than a v-twin, but we all know ducati makes the better product and I think that what truely scares the I-4 fans. It's the superior handling that kept us in the game before and now it's going to keep us in the winner circle.

I bet u Eric Buell is also happy.
 
It's not a surprise or getting away with anything - I'm pretty sure Ducati don't plan on having an AMA team anyway. However, there are at least a couple teams that intend to run the 1098R privately pending AMA approval. All that being said, you have to remember that for many years Superbike was a 750cc class for 4-Cyl's and up to 1000cc for Twins. What is actually more surprising is that when Superbikes started running 1000cc 4-Cyl's that they did NOT allow a higher displacement for twins. I think many believed that was intentional to keep out the dominant Ducatis. The reality is that since 4-Cyl's have been 1000cc the only Ducati teams still doing well were the full factory teams. They completely dropped out of the AMA because they were at too much of a disadvantage to justify the expense of a losing team that could actually damage the brand name in this market. Finally allowing a higher displacement for twins (in my opinion) is now only finally making things "right" again.
 
Whomever campaigns the 1098R (1198), I hope they can keep pace with Yoshimura Suzuki. Especially if Ben Spies and Mladin stay together. I hate to admit it, but they ran not walked away from the competition. I have no doubt the 1098R will kick some ass, it's can they get sorted out fast enough with Suzuki years ahead in development in the AMA series. I watch both Moto GP and AMA's, what Spies and Mladin did to AMA superbike last year was equivalent to 2 Rossi's on the RC211v....meaning not even close. Rossi and 211v5 was so farther along in development that he was normally 8-10 seconds ahead of the field. This was due to his balls out style in the end on the bike development vs other makes with equal or more HP, but not as much developmental success @ that time, circa '03 '04.

Now, I hope Ducati Austin or some RedBullUSA team puts together a solid team with our Ducs this year in AMA. That would bring me out to the AMA tracks again, I want to see a Duc back in the front vs the same Suzuki after Suzuki after Suzuki. It be even more sweet if Team (Michael) Jordan switched to Ducati and went away from Suzuki.

All in all, I hope Ducati can help teams race in the AMA. The series had become a bore with Suzuki 1k's one after the other and being 15 out of the 20 bikes to race. A competitive 1098R would bring some life and attraction to the series let alone a much missed passionate Testaretta L-twin sound @ race track speeds. Go 1098R!!!!!!
 
If'n there was gonna be a "Factory" team for Ducati...you would have heard about it by now. Testing for the new year starts early - like right after the last race of the season. However, traditionally the Daytona tire tests are usually the "official" kick-off of pre-season testing (in December). Yes, there will be some privateers racing the Ducs. Don't expect any real involvement from Ducati just yet.
 
loosely translated...no privateer is going to compete on a regular basis with any factory supported team today - ESPECIALLY NOT SUZUKI. At least a few privateers will have a chance to prove what they can do on the 1098R. If you want to follow "that" race then start counting 1st as the first privateer and go from there. Hopefully there will be some Ducati's in "that" top 5 on a regular basis (right behind all the factories).
 
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