Ducati Out Of WSBK...

[Spidey]

If it's a chess move, it still screws 2011 for Ducs. That said, they can not have a "factory" 2011 team and still give near-factory support to the privateer bikes.  'cept that all the privateers might move to Aprilia (ala Smrz).

Maybe they just need 2011 to figure out why Fabio is such a douche and to design a plan to get a couple more HP out of Haga's walker. 

[CairnsDuc]

But aren't the vast Majority of the lead teams in WSBK privateer teams anyway? and Ducati will still be supporting the privateers.

I will say I understand the move, They now have a massive Superstar in MotoGP with Rossi jumping aboard, it would appear to
my inexperienced eyes that this years bike is not performing as well as it should (Stoner in an Interview on Australian TV last night said
the front end is causing massive headaches for the Team, and no matter what they seem to do it nothing appears to be working, new forks
new Geometry, no matter what they try the front end is just not predictable or confidence inspiring)

I look at it this way:
* Rossi on board (Meaning big Pay Packet to retain his services, probably the biggest Ducati have ever had to pay out)
* Current MotoGP bike has issues, limited resources to develop new bike and hopefully fix the problem before Rossi Arrives
* Pull the money and resources from the WSBK team to throw at the MotoGP team.
* No doubt Rossi will have set performance standards for the Bike, they have very limited time to get a new bike ready for next season
* Ducati has limited Resources to throw around, I am not surprised some programs got trimmed or cut, The Doctors bill was always
going to be very high!

Just another thought:
As far as developing a new bike, if they are going to bring a new bike in 2012 WSBK, to a limited extent this does make sense, they now
are not restricted as far as testing time, they can take the bike where ever/when ever and test as much as they want, away from
the harsh testing restrictions placed upon them by WSBK rules and regs.

Or is my thinking to far out of left field?

[zooom]

I look at it this way:
* Rossi on board (Meaning big Pay Packet to retain his services, probably the biggest Ducati have ever had to pay out)
* Current MotoGP bike has issues, limited resources to develop new bike and hopefully fix the problem before Rossi Arrives
 

Rossi for he most part will be paid by Marlboro for Ducati and his sponsors will take care of the rest...

the 2011 bike is probaby already more than halfway done as of this point...there won't be too much for Rossi to be doing development wise in a major part...minor things yes...major changes..not until 2012.

[fastwin]

Sad to see this.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2010/Dec/101215windingdown.htm

It will be weird to not see a factory Duc on the WSBK grid next year. Bummer.