Ducati to starting fresh with GP14?

[duccarlos]

I was reading an article about it and now I can't find it. Apparently the pressure from Phillips Morris was too much and in the article they mentioned that the bike that they will see in Sepang on 2014 will be completely different than the GP13. Considering they hired some BMW engineers, they might be fielding an S1000RR in Ducati fairings.

[Raux]

I think they said the GP13.5 will debut, using parts of the GP14

to me, if that's true, the gp14 can't be that different.

[Speeddog]

Page 24

http://cyclenews.uberflip.com/i/172722

Significant new bits at Valencia, new bike at 2014 first test.

What he said, anyway....

[triangleforge]

Another report on the same news:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Sep/130926oo-2wsx.htm

And because it's supposedly going to be all new everything with the GP14, I wouldn't be surprised to see Cal & Dovi struggling to crack the top ten early next season, in contrast to Nicky & Dovi's stranglehold on 8th & 9th. If it works, though, Gobmeier's promised revolution just might lead them out of that wilderness toward the end of 2014...

[Raux]

and Nicky will be laughing all the way to the top 5 with a new Aprilia

[ducatiz]

This is where the Audi buyout wilk help.   Audi wants to tweak BMWs nose in a big way.

Moving Ducati to win in gp and sbk does that...

[Raux]

This is where the Audi buyout wilk help.   Audi wants to tweak BMWs nose in a big way.

Moving Ducati to win in gp and sbk does that...

LOL, in WSBK.. come on. did you see the results over the season so far.

[ducatiz]

LOL, in WSBK.. come on. did you see the results over the season so far.

Exactly.  Aprilia and Bmw all over.  Audi just completed the sale this year...

[duccarlos]

You won't see anything new in WSBK for at least 2 more years. Simply speaking Audi might gain something next year in MotoGP, but that's futile considering Tiz' comment above. They really only care about shoving it up BMW's ass.

[Triple J]

Exactly.  Aprilia and Bmw all over.  Audi just completed the sale this year...

Aprilia did considerably better their 1st year in WSBK than Ducati has done this season with the 1199. Biaggi finished 4th in 2009 (the debut year), and won the championship the following season. The 1199 appears to be outgunned until the series adopts more Superstock-like rules.

BMW struggled due to electronic issues, and their insistence on developing their own system. Hopefully Audi doesn't also bring that German stubborness with them!

I'm still skeptical that Audi can fix the GP bike, and even if they do I don't think they have a rider than can win races. Dovi never won while on a Honda, and Cal crashes too much. I like both riders, but I don't see either of them beating JLo, MM, or Pedro, no matter what they're riding. I think the best they can do is fight for a top 5 position. Being able to do that may attract better riders though.

[duccarlos]

The current Ducati line-up are all excellent test riders. When they know they have a winner, then they'll spend the money to attract the aliens.

[gm2]

Aprilia did considerably better their 1st year in WSBK than Ducati has done this season with the 1199. Biaggi finished 4th in 2009 (the debut year), and won the championship the following season. The 1199 appears to be outgunned until the series adopts more Superstock-like rules.

BMW struggled due to electronic issues, and their insistence on developing their own system. Hopefully Audi doesn't also bring that German stubborness with them!

well it's not as if Apriia didn't come with a LOT of motorcycle racing experience behind them.  BMW, not so much.  and re ducati, you need to have a bike as well sorted as the 1198 + have bayliss or checa on it to beat the 4-cylinder machines.  it's nice that they're so stubborn about the twin but if the rules hadn't been dialed back (soon) in order to create space between wsbk and GP, the ducati was probably done winning in sbk. 
 

[Triple J]

well it's not as if Apriia didn't come with a LOT of motorcycle racing experience behind them.  BMW, not so much.  and re ducati, you need to have a bike as well sorted as the 1198 + have bayliss or checa on it to beat the 4-cylinder machines.  it's nice that they're so stubborn about the twin but if the rules hadn't been dialed back (soon) in order to create space between wsbk and GP, the ducati was probably done winning in sbk. 
 

Agreed. I still don't know why they haven't built a V4 SBK.

[ducatiz]

Agreed. I still don't know why they haven't built a V4 SBK.

because they market the L twin, desmo design as their primary raison d'etre

which is silly, i think as i look at my 1978 Ducati GTL

[Raux]

when the got rid of the trellis with the 1199, they could have jumped ship then with the new engine design, and gone full force into the D16 era.

it was a half measure and I think it's going to burn down their wsbk race program.