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Ducati raise Superbike doubts
Japan, July 29:Ducati could scale back their investment in the World Superbikes Championship after radical rule changes were announced.
Japan, July 29:Ducati could scale back their investment in the World Superbikes Championship after radical rule changes were announced.
Moves to end the requirement for expensive air restrictors and introduce a single tyre manufacturer are intended to make private teams more competitive.
But several of the sport's leading manufacturers, who had been considering a return to the series, have now decided to stay away.
"There's a lot of controversial feeling about what is going to happen and the main concern is to see how many manufacturers will be here next year," said Paulo Ciabatti, director of the works Ducati Fila team.
"The Motorcycle Manufacturers Sports Association, of which Ducati is a member, has issued a statement saying as a result of the rule changes, the manufacturers who were considering coming back to the series will now stay away. "Of course anything can happen, but Ducati and Suzuki are already here so that leaves the door open to speculation the other major Japanese manufacturers were planning to come back.
"But after the MMSA issued such a strongly worded statement, I find it difficult to believe they will come back now."
Ciabatti confirmed Ducati's commitment to World Superbikes - but only if the other leading manufacturers return.
"We have a commitment to remain in World Superbikes, that's why we developed the 999 and we did that work because we're planning to stay in World Superbikes for many years.
"But we took that decision thinking the series was going in a certain direction and some other manufacturers would be coming back to the championship in 2004 and 2005.
"With these rule changes the future is not certain, so Ducati will consider what the future holds in store and dictate the level of investment according to that."
Bureau Report
But several of the sport's leading manufacturers, who had been considering a return to the series, have now decided to stay away.
"There's a lot of controversial feeling about what is going to happen and the main concern is to see how many manufacturers will be here next year," said Paulo Ciabatti, director of the works Ducati Fila team.
"The Motorcycle Manufacturers Sports Association, of which Ducati is a member, has issued a statement saying as a result of the rule changes, the manufacturers who were considering coming back to the series will now stay away. "Of course anything can happen, but Ducati and Suzuki are already here so that leaves the door open to speculation the other major Japanese manufacturers were planning to come back.
"But after the MMSA issued such a strongly worded statement, I find it difficult to believe they will come back now."
Ciabatti confirmed Ducati's commitment to World Superbikes - but only if the other leading manufacturers return.
"We have a commitment to remain in World Superbikes, that's why we developed the 999 and we did that work because we're planning to stay in World Superbikes for many years.
"But we took that decision thinking the series was going in a certain direction and some other manufacturers would be coming back to the championship in 2004 and 2005.
"With these rule changes the future is not certain, so Ducati will consider what the future holds in store and dictate the level of investment according to that."
Bureau Report