Funny money
Superbike Planet has posted the full text of Ducati's press release regarding contingency money for 2005 in North America. At first glance it looks like an ambitious attempt to push Ducati racers to the front of the field. A closer look shows that most of the $871,000 that is available is very safe.
$450,000 of that budget is for AMA Superbike and Formula Extreme. The factory team is excluded which makes it extremely unlikely that any of the Superbike prizes will be collected since right now no other Ducati riders are listed on the AMA site. Formula Extreme has two Ducati mounted riders. #66 Benjamin Walters, #308 Dario. Good luck to them. With the likes of Aaron Yates , Ben Spies, Miguel Duhamel, Tommy Hayden also competing in the series Ben and Dario have their work cut out for them.
So over 50% of the contingency budget is unlikely to ever be paid out. The remainder is targeted toward club racing where Ducati may be competitive in specialty events like Thunderbike or Battle of the Twins.
"This is the most aggressive racing contingency program Ducati has ever offered and it is a demonstration of our commitment to racing in North America. We want people to consider racing a Ducati this season because we are a genuine alternative to the mass market products and racing is in our blood. We are World Superbike Champions and we intend to mount a serious challenge in AMA Superbike in 2005. The grass roots of racing produce the heroes of tomorrow and we want as many of them as possible to learn their craft on a Ducati. " says Michael Lock, Ducati North America CEO.
This is a great sentiment, but the real issue here is cost. From the club level to the international level the number of Ducatis on racing grids is declining. WSBK has gone in a single season from being the "Ducati Cup" to being populated mostly by Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. 2003 British Superbike champions Monstermob have switched from Ducati to Honda for 2005. The reason given was cost. A Ducati 999 CAN be made competitive against the best Japanese superbikes, but only at a tremendous cost. If Mostermob is unable, or unwillng, to shoulder that cost then it is unrealistic to expect club level racers to ride a Ducati regardless of the contingency fund. Race competitive bikes need to be cost effective tools to purchase and campaign.
Ducati's history and heritage are tightly linked to racing success. To extend that history into the coming decade Ducati needs racers at all levels, not just MotoGP, riding and winning on Ducatis. Superbike Planet
$450,000 of that budget is for AMA Superbike and Formula Extreme. The factory team is excluded which makes it extremely unlikely that any of the Superbike prizes will be collected since right now no other Ducati riders are listed on the AMA site. Formula Extreme has two Ducati mounted riders. #66 Benjamin Walters, #308 Dario. Good luck to them. With the likes of Aaron Yates , Ben Spies, Miguel Duhamel, Tommy Hayden also competing in the series Ben and Dario have their work cut out for them.
So over 50% of the contingency budget is unlikely to ever be paid out. The remainder is targeted toward club racing where Ducati may be competitive in specialty events like Thunderbike or Battle of the Twins.
"This is the most aggressive racing contingency program Ducati has ever offered and it is a demonstration of our commitment to racing in North America. We want people to consider racing a Ducati this season because we are a genuine alternative to the mass market products and racing is in our blood. We are World Superbike Champions and we intend to mount a serious challenge in AMA Superbike in 2005. The grass roots of racing produce the heroes of tomorrow and we want as many of them as possible to learn their craft on a Ducati. " says Michael Lock, Ducati North America CEO.
This is a great sentiment, but the real issue here is cost. From the club level to the international level the number of Ducatis on racing grids is declining. WSBK has gone in a single season from being the "Ducati Cup" to being populated mostly by Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. 2003 British Superbike champions Monstermob have switched from Ducati to Honda for 2005. The reason given was cost. A Ducati 999 CAN be made competitive against the best Japanese superbikes, but only at a tremendous cost. If Mostermob is unable, or unwillng, to shoulder that cost then it is unrealistic to expect club level racers to ride a Ducati regardless of the contingency fund. Race competitive bikes need to be cost effective tools to purchase and campaign.
Ducati's history and heritage are tightly linked to racing success. To extend that history into the coming decade Ducati needs racers at all levels, not just MotoGP, riding and winning on Ducatis. Superbike Planet
posted by Pro Italia Los Angeles at 8:26 PM
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