1000cc in 2012

[gm2]

Is that the real reason? Or just a convenient excuse for a very small manufacturer without a large racing budget?

catch-22 question.  bc if you're a very small manufacturer without a large racing budget, if you're going to contemplate going to GP you need the major rules to be pretty static.

[duccarlos]

Is that the real reason? Or just a convenient excuse for a very small manufacturer without a large racing budget?

I don't think they need to have an excuse. The RSV4 was pretty much a prototype when it come on the scene. If they have learned anything in the last few years is that they don't need to be in MotoGP to develop an excellent SBK. Ducati is probably thinking the same thing. I'm not sure if they would have developed a frameless bike and raced it in WSBK directly, but I think they are realizing that their core product does not fit in the world of prototypes. If the 1199 does well next year, I think they will be looking at Aprilia and their success in a single series.

[desmoquattro]

If they have learned anything in the last few years is that they don't need to be in MotoGP to develop an excellent SBK. Ducati Everyone is probably thinking the same thing.

Fixed it for ya...

[gm2]

but I think they are realizing that their core product does not fit in the world of prototypes.

sure it's got an engine, 2 wheels, and handlebars.  but that's more or less where the similarity ends between the GP bike and their core product.

 

[duccarlos]

sure it's got an engine, 2 wheels, and handlebars.  but that's more or less where the similarity ends between the GP bike and their core product.

That was my point. Prototype racing is supposed to fuel new innovations. SBK's are adopting new technology mcuh quicker than they used to. Why would Aprilia want to dump millions into MotoGP if they can simply supply any new technology directly to WSBK, and hence their road bikes?

[thought]

I can only see it as a valid reason to be developing the full top to bottom next gen bike...  the RSV4 wouldnt have come about without the aprilia motogp effort, they would have probably stuck to refining the twin they were using if it was just SBK development.  Same with the 1199 I'd say.  I'm sure a lot of the engine development ideas they had for the superquadrata came from motogp.

For me, WSBK fuels the evolution in bike design, MotoGP fuels the revolutions in bike design... or at least it used to before all the rule changes.  Now it will fuel the revolution in bike design within a narrowly set limit of what bike/engine design can be i.e. 4 bangers with twin spar frames running on bridgestone tires.

For me... I just really dont understand the issue with opening up more variations in engine design for the series.  I cant see how it would affect the series in any negative way.

[derby]

For me... I just really dont understand the issue with opening up more variations in engine design for the series.  I cant see how it would affect the series in any negative way.

over the last 20 years or so, including when the engine rules were "wide open," the series has seen twins, triples, four-, and five-cylinder machines. only the latter two have won races.

[gm2]

That was my point. Prototype racing is supposed to fuel new innovations. SBK's are adopting new technology mcuh quicker than they used to. Why would Aprilia want to dump millions into MotoGP if they can simply supply any new technology directly to WSBK, and hence their road bikes?

just depends on their attitude toward racing.  ducati for instance considers (or used to?  we'll have to see post-Audi) racing to be core to their existence.  that is also the case with honda: in the consumer world it might not seem that way, but they actually consider themselves to be a racing company first.

so if as a corporation you really believe that racing is central to what you do, then you do it at the highest level.  for a long time that meant it was pretty black & white you had to be in MotoGP, but i can understand why recently the OEMs might feel differently.  the cube exploded, and clearly aprilia built the RSV4 with wsbk in mind.