Ducati B.S.B.08
- Thread starter Oldredss
- Start date
I'm going to Croft Wednesday so will do some nosing about !!
Gizmo
Forum Geek
everything will depend upon what Airwaves do, it was the same last season. the ducati's cost a lot to run in that they need 2 techs flown in from Italy each time the engines start but that can be saved on the dev costs. The Stobart bikes are not HRC kitted, they've done a lot themselves and worked with Honda US the first year they ran them. It would be good to get it back on Ducati, keep Shakey and then all we need is Luca and Antonio from Gianni's to do the catering hospitality again, I think Freak and Lil were with us one night in the restaurant last year talking about Stobart switching back and Antonio was making Honda noises followed by big booming Ducati noises in the middle of his crowded restaurant
everything will depend upon what Airwaves do, it was the same last season. the ducati's cost a lot to run in that they need 2 techs flown in from Italy each time the engines start but that can be saved on the dev costs. The Stobart bikes are not HRC kitted, they've done a lot themselves and worked with Honda US the first year they ran them. It would be good to get it back on Ducati, keep Shakey and then all we need is Luca and Antonio from Gianni's to do the catering hospitality again, I think Freak and Lil were with us one night in the restaurant last year talking about Stobart switching back and Antonio was making Honda noises followed by big booming Ducati noises in the middle of his crowded restaurant
I'm surprised Honda dont use them as test mules after all his outfit with Shakey and Tom Sykes going so well could cause them some worries.He would no doubt attract interest from Ducati after all he certainly gave them some good results last time,including those W.S.B wild cards.I dont know what the deal is with Stobart but I beleive its long term.Will poke around and see what I can find out from Croft
239desmo
Is it nearly bedtime?
Remember Paul Bird giving us a tour of the Monstermob setup at Knockhill when Shakey was riding for him having replaced Hizzy. Paul personally was a Ducati fan and had a 999R from memory. His big concern then was costs and what factory support he did or did not get and was worried even then he would have to switch to Honda purely on cost grounds. Ducati engines were a fortune and despite giving the impression of being a cash rich team reality was somewhat different. Would be good to see him back with Ducati. Struck me as a real nice down to earth bloke and spent ages just blethering with us.
Gizmo
Forum Geek
I'm surprised Honda dont use them as test mules after all his outfit with Shakey and Tom Sykes going so well could cause them some worries.He would no doubt attract interest from Ducati after all he certainly gave them some good results last time,including those W.S.B wild cards.I dont know what the deal is with Stobart but I beleive its long term.Will poke around and see what I can find out from Croft
HRC do their own thing and I think when Stobart originally got the blades the HRC kit wasn't that good. Honda US decided not to run the HRC kit as well. HRC have now developed it with traction control and more and the Stobart bikes don't have that so I'm not sure how relevant the development would be
The team is the most settled its been since Shakey left and finally looks like they are getting the bike how they want it, they took Michael Rutter on last year to do that job but it didn't happen. Don't poke too hard on the Stobart deal, I've heard a couple of rumours which I'll not risk repeating here!He's a great ambassador for the sport and genuinely loves racing, its fantastic when you do get into the pits with him, i was at Croft when they were running the Ducati's and spent a full practice session in the middle of the garage with Paul, he was as involved as much as the riders and mechanics but was also doing the PR thing with guests they had there.
I don't think he's had a 999R, John Hebson ( Shakey's mechanic) has one as does Brian from Askham oils ( one of the Stobart sponsors who also lives in Penrith). We bumped into Paul at Devils last year on Raid the Lakes, sat on the grass chatting to him and he noticed Steve (WeeVee Twins) RC30 and said it was the bike he wished he'd never sold, think he owned 2 of them. There's a load of ex race parts floating around Penrith, bits off the RC51's they raced, bits of Blades but not so much Ducati stuff, most of that was factory so went back
The team costs him a lot to run, if you get down here to an event and John Hebson is out he'll give you an idea of just how much, fuel is £5 per litre!!
Next year should be cheaper for the 1098 as it won't have the expensive engine mods that the T9 needs to make it competitive, for sure
If they go back to Ducati it'll be to factory leased bikes and the running costs tend to be the cost of the technicians not parts, its unlikely he'd move if he had to buy in a bike, kit it and run it, a factory lease option would make more sense.
239desmo
Is it nearly bedtime?
Yep, did the same with us. Introduced us to his electronics wizard who as I recall was a Jaguar boffin who "moonlighted" with Paul for beer & grub!
We asked him if he ran a Ducati and I thought he said he "had" a 999R. Perhaps he meant factory gave him one for PR or whatever.
Wish him well whatever he does. (Forgot he was in your neck of the woods!)
Freak
Is it still summer?
There's another issue here...
Last year JHP were going to run two 999's in BSB, both ex-Renegade WSB machines, one RS04 and an F03 both had been upped in spec to around F05 but Ducati stepped in and refuse to help out as GSE/Airwaves were obviously top of the pile and Ducati didn't want a second string Ducati team in BSB which were clearly at a disadvantage and not getting the same results as GSE
On the back of this JHP ran in BSS last year and have switched to Superstock this year with the 1098, again the rumour mill suggests GSE will go WSB next year and JHP are hoping to be the factory supported entries in BSB having such close links to the factory, so will Ducati allow 2 teams to run the 1098R (F08 I guess) or will they plumb for PB with current BSB experience or go with JHP because they're Ducati through and through?
Last year JHP were going to run two 999's in BSB, both ex-Renegade WSB machines, one RS04 and an F03 both had been upped in spec to around F05 but Ducati stepped in and refuse to help out as GSE/Airwaves were obviously top of the pile and Ducati didn't want a second string Ducati team in BSB which were clearly at a disadvantage and not getting the same results as GSE
On the back of this JHP ran in BSS last year and have switched to Superstock this year with the 1098, again the rumour mill suggests GSE will go WSB next year and JHP are hoping to be the factory supported entries in BSB having such close links to the factory, so will Ducati allow 2 teams to run the 1098R (F08 I guess) or will they plumb for PB with current BSB experience or go with JHP because they're Ducati through and through?
kducati
New member
From what I have been told this is very likely
Gizmo
Forum Geek
They'll only run 2 factory teams if both can come up with the money to show it will be done with a serious view to winning. I'd think its taken for granted PB Racing can come up with the cash if Airwaves move on, if JHP can also show that they have sponsors in place early enough to allow Ducati to build 4 factory bikes I can't see why they wouldn't do it, Ducati Corse is run as a business!
You should see more privateer teams using kitted 1098 corse bikes, like the old RS spec not F if a team can't come up with the funds to go full factory that might be an option.
the reason Ducati claim they need the extra cc hike was to reduce costs for small and privateer teams so they need to justify this with more 1098's on the grid, WSB, BSB etc need bigger grids to be attractive for TV and sponsors so its in the manufacturers and organisers benefit to get this.
The only comment from Paul Bird so far is "We're making contact with the factory and beginning to build relations"Judging by how well his Hondas were going yesterday at Croft he may have a rethink.Tom Sykes was fastest with Lavilla a second behind him.Haslam had an engine let go in a nice plume of smoke,might be on here later looking for advice !!!