Minoli: Ducati 848 Possible for 2008
Ducati Motor CEO Federico Minoli, writing recently in his Desmoblog Internet diary, shared some additional information about the forthcoming 1098 Superbike, future product and the company’s position in the upcoming World Superbike Championship.
1098
“The 1098 S will arrive at European Dealerships starting from December 2006 and in the USA from February 2007,” Minoli wrote. “Starting from February 2007 the 1098 will arrive in both the USA and Europe. The 1098 Tricolore will arrive in Europe starting from February 2007 and in March in the USA.”
Minoli said the Tricolore model was created by Aldo Drudi based on an idea that came from Ducati’s North American subsidiary. He said Ducati also plans to produce the 1098 in a second color, possibly yellow, white or black.
DISPLACEMENT
“A lower displacement engine is not foreseen for 2007, but an 848 engine will be available in 2008 if there is adequate demand.”
WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
“The bikes that race in the Superbike Championships are derived from the production models. Therefore, it is only logical that if our new production Superbike is the 1098, the bike derived from the 1098 is the one that must race in the SBK Championship.
“This is the same logic that pushed the Japanese motorcycle companies to ask for some rule changes. Since 2003, this has allowed them to race with their bikes at 1000cc that had been derived from their 750cc production models – bikes that did not correspond with the bikes on the market.
“Sometimes logic is blocked by politics, fear or simply the desire to damage. As a result, in the World Superbike Championship we are forced to race with the 999F07, against our wishes, in exchange for a promise that the rules will change allowing us to race with the 1098 in 2008.
“Don’t fear – the 999F07 is a wonderful motorcycle and, ridden by Troy and Lorenzo, it will put up a great fight … even if it has less horsepower.”
