Ducati WSBK, is the 1198 at the end of it's life already?

[Richard G]

There are a few rumours starting to come out the 1198 Ducati is as developed as it's going to get without going down the same route as the 999 spending lots & lots of money on it to keep it competitive.

The whole reason behind the 1200 as I understand it was to allow it to be competitive with the 1000cc 4's without the big budget.

If this is the case will Ducati ask the Flamini's for an even bigger CC advantage or should they just make the Desmosedici a production bike and race that instead, (Do as Honda did with the SP1 & 2 if you can't beat them join them)

What's your thought's.
Edit

Racingeye, the comments are alledged to have come from Davide Tardozzi, the WSBK Ducati Team Manager, his claim was that without the use of expensive materials the development of the 1198 has gone as far as it can.

[cadalora]

[ it seems that the same debate surfaces every season, whether to allow the rule change in favour of Ducati and increase the engine capacity..
has it's been stated already Ducati have the know how too produce a 4 cylinder machine, which is the path i think they should follow and leave the rules alone..
they could always create a seperate championship for the big v-twin a bit like the boxer cup, or supermono's...<^><..

[wiggysan]

You have a good point.

Unlike during the 90's where the Ducati was the best bike by miles, it would seem that advantage has gone back to the 4cyl.

But where can Ducati go ? a 1.3 ltr engine? 1.4 ltr maybe ? surley not, it would be a monster.

I guess shaving a few kilos off is the only method, or like you say with the SP1/2 , join them with a 4 cyl.

It would not be a massive shock for Ducati, the current and past (990) was a V4 so they know what they are doing.

I hope the Flamini brothers dont back down and give them more CC's as there is only so much the " big 4 " will stand for.