No More Ducati in WSBK

[Dockstrada]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2010/Aug/100827a.htm

DUCATI WITHDRAWS FROM WORLD SUPERBIKE
Friday, August 27, 2010
This just in:

DUCATI WILL FOCUS ITS TECHNICAL RESOURCES ON PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE 2011 WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A FACTORY TEAM

Borgo Panigale (Bologna - Italy), 27 August 2010 - Ducati, having participated with a factory team in every edition of the World Superbike Championship since it began in 1988, winning 16 Manufacturers' world titles and 13 Riders' world titles along the way, has decided to limit its participation to the supply of machines and support to private teams.

"This decision is part of a specific strategy made by Ducati, the aim being to further increase technological content in production models that will arrive on the market in the coming years. In order to achieve this objective, the company's technical resources, until now engaged with the management of the factory Superbike team, will instead be dedicated to the development of the new generation of hypersport bikes, in both their homologated and Superbike race versions," declared Gabriele Del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati. "I would like to thank Nori and Michel, and all of the riders that have contributed to the great history of Ducati in Superbike, but above all the Ducati employees; it is their hard work and professionalism that has allowed us to achieve such important results. A big thank you also to all of the partners that have supported us, first and foremost Xerox of course. I would also like to acknowledge the Flammini brothers who have managed the championship for so long, and the FIM, the organization with which we have continuous, constructive relations."

By making this important decision Ducati aims to increase the speed and efficiency with which it transfers advanced technological solutions, currently tested in the prototype championship, to the production series.

The task of testing innovative technical solutions in Superbike racing will therefore be entrusted to external teams in the coming years, teams that will have the chance to receive technical support from Ducati personnel. This choice will allow the teams to benefit from even more competitive machines and parts.

Despite the decision to interrupt its official participation in the World Superbike Championship, Ducati will continue to work, in collaboration with the championship organizers, other manufacturers and the FIM, to define a technical regulation aimed at containing costs. Strong in the sporting spirit that has always allowed this manufacturer to compete, line-up against its rivals, and win, it is fundamental for Ducati to identify, together with the other interested parties, solutions that can guarantee the future of the championship in the medium-long term.

Recently the Superbike World Championship, according to the current regulations, has been interpreted as moving more towards competition between prototypes rather than for bikes derived from production machines. This has led to an increase in costs, both for the manufacturers and the teams participating in the championship. This picture does not correlate with the current worldwide economic situation, which has made the securing of sponsorship even more difficult. Ducati trusts that the work carried out by all parties will lead to improvement also in this area.

 

[mattyvas]

I was just talking about this earlier today.
It was said that with Ducati being restricted with the 1198 this year and not being able to run the bike
unrestricted next year they have basically said what's the point.
Well that's what I'm told anyways that the bike is being restricted to something like 848 throttle bodies!

We'll let the other guy riding in Moto GP next year for us do all our winning and sell a bucket load of #46 merch
along with it.

[Nickati]

Sometimes when you have the best and others can't catch you they do what they have to do to slow make every other manufacturer competitive.............
Long live the 1198 !

[CairnsDuc]

As another train of thought, Could it be also, they would have to be lining Mr Rossi's pockets with large amounts of the folding
maybe Mr Rossi's salary just stretched the $$$ to thin, and I would also suggest Valentino would be making some very large
performance demands, so maybe they are also looking at if the Bike does not reach the Demands of Valentino, they may have to
throw some big money at developing parts for the bike in a very small window of time.

Just my $0.02 worth

[Jukie]

my thought exactly SPANKY. I love using that name

[Spider]

completely agree. All hands of deck of the frigate ROSSI. they've spent the dough, now might as well focus on getting it right, they won't be happy unless it's No. 1 next year so might as well put all resources into getting it right, dollar on return has to be a concern!!!!

and who knows...perhaps the 1198 replacement is for 2012 and then they'll be back!!!

it is a shame though, so much of our bikes and the heritage comes from SBK.

[Mr.S2R]

Interesting article to debunk some of the Rossi theories...

http://www.ducatinewstoday.com/2010/09/why-ducati-is-leaving-world-superbikes-part-1/

[Betty]

Don't think it really debunks the Rossi theories at all ... there is usually an element of truth to all conspiracies.

But I think it really does come down to how much money a small fatory has to through around. Maintaining a deserved reputation in WSBK when the rules are ... lets just say ... restricting, may cost far more than it is worth. If the non-factory teams continue and do well that's a bonus.

Which means there is more 'racing budget' to through at Rossi's MotoGP effort. Wages aside, they will no doubt need to spend more money than ever before to make sure they are at least competitive ... an uncompetitive Rossi on a Ducati could ruin the company from a racing pedigree point of view.

So in short, of course its all about Rossi!

[CairnsDuc]

Ok, so Cigarette money may be paying Rossi's Salary, But I still think that Rossi's arrival will be costing Ducati a small fortune,
Development of a new bike is always expensive, even more so if Rossi does an end of season test and they find the bike handles
like a dog, so in a very short amount of time they have to ramp up development to a whole new level, and that will cost mega $$$

Even if Rossi jumps off the bike and says "yep, all good, the bike is performing how I want" they still have a hell of a lot of work in
front of them to ensure the bike and the team is top notch to give them any hope of delivering a Championship to Rossi in a very
short amount of time.

They only have a small amount of Testing with Rossi before next season starts, and they have to be ready to go with quick and decisive
changes should the need arise, that would be very hard for a small factory with limited resources (And let's be honest, Ducati is a drop
in the ocean compared to the likes of Honda or Yamaha) They need the limited resources that are there directed to make the small amount
of time Rossi is with the Team very rewarding and fruitful. even more so if Marlboro is putting up some big money for Rossi to jump on
the Ducati, they will be pissed off mightily if Rossi is not in the top 5 within a very short period of time when the new season starts.
A Sponsor that big doesn't come along that often, so you will do anything and everything to keep them happy.

They might say it's not money or Rossi that is causing the Downfall of the WSBK team, but the timing of the Announcement, barely 3 to 4
weeks after Rossi is announced as the new MotoGP rider for Ducati is awfully suspicious.

And unless we are privy to all the backroom and boardroom dealings, we will sadly, never know the true story.

[Nickati]

Ok, so Cigarette money may be paying Rossi's Salary, But I still think that Rossi's arrival will be costing Ducati a small fortune,
Development of a new bike is always expensive, even more so if Rossi does an end of season test and they find the bike handles
like a dog, so in a very short amount of time they have to ramp up development to a whole new level, and that will cost mega $$$ they will be pissed off mightily if Rossi is not in the top 5 within a very short period of time when the new season starts.
A Sponsor that big doesn't come along that often, so you will do anything and everything to keep them happy.

And adding to that Stoner stated the other day that nothing happens quickly at Ducati. It certanily will be great to see how it unfolds.

[CairnsDuc]

My thoughts exactly, Stoner said on One HD's Thursday night live a week or so ago that they are struggling to get the front end problem sorted out
on the Desmo, they are throwing everything at it, including new forks and geometry changes and it still does not want to work properly with little
to no feel.

I could only imagine Rossi's demand on the team would be to get that fixed, and fixed now.

And with the money of Yamaha, they could throw the $$$ around and get a problem fixed within a round or 2, Look what happened when Rossi said we need more power, Yamaha threw epic $$$ at engine development and within 4 to 5 months, Rossi had his more powerful engine, I remember the Commentators joking
about how much time, money and prototype engines that Yamaha had spent to make Rossi happy. It worked though.

Rossi is used to problems being fixed in a short time frame, by throwing maximum effort and $$$ at it, Honda did it*, Yamaha did it, and Ducati might have to do it, even more so that the current MotoGP bike has this horrid front end that no one seems to be able to fix.

* Having said that, I know that Honda towards the end of Rossi's run with them, Honda were saying it was the bike winning the races, not Rossi, but
they still spent mega $$$ to get the bike developed to that point.

[Mr.S2R]

Rossi is used to problems being fixed in a short time frame, by throwing maximum effort and $$$ at it, Honda did it*, Yamaha did it, and Ducati might have to do it, even more so that the current MotoGP bike has this horrid front end that no one seems to be able to fix.

One point not to forget here also is that it is NOT all about Rossi when he was at Honda and Yamaha - there was that man JB that has performed miracles.  It is still not confirmed whether JB is going to Ducati - if he doesn't I think that will seriously hinder Ducati's development to what Rossi wants in a bike.

[CairnsDuc]

Good Point, I have been watching with much interest to see if JB was going with Rossi or not.
JB has been a huge part of Rossi's success.