BSB » Q&A: Colin Wright, Airwaves Ducati

Could U imagine a top team going into a season not having tested their bike on rain rubber ... rather waiting for the first time it rains at a race & then having to scratch for data? I think not, certainly I wouldnt.

That Ducati was about as certain to gain weight this season as rain was in the BSB. For that reason alone I dont believe that the team doesnt know EXACTLY what impact the 10kgs will have. Im also certain they know exactly where to put it for Donington & come 10h20 on Sat morning Byrne will peddle out onto the track.
... & from what I've seen of that bikes torque curve, it wont show that it's any fatter either.

2 points: 1098s in WSB and BSB are +170kgs end of race.

according to CWs comments on BIkesport site where he discloses weight, fuel capacity and fuel consumption do the maths

KGs

165 Dry weight

+18 fuel capacity

183 Weight at start of race - in the pits before sighting lap

-12.5 fuel used 20 laps + 3 safety car contingency + 1 warm up + 1 sighting laps

=170.5 End of race: Dry weight less fuel used @ 0.5kg per lap (25 laps)

+4.5 ballast required

175 weight limit - 1kg +/- tolerance allowed

STFU and get on with it - oh and ask the JOhn hackett team what engine Rutter had at the NW200. WSB too slow BSB one better - std pistons !

This is all getting very emotional. Ducati/Shakey fans will cry "foul", the others will be delighted or not care. Neither GSE nor MSVR look likely to back down. All we as fans can do is see how the season develops.

I'm not happy with the situation but if nothing else, 2008 has so far seen it all: crashes, stoppages, stunning wins, disqualifications, rule changes. Never a dull moment. I'm sure Shakey would rather race but as I see it, the worst case scenario for him & Airwaves Ducati would be for Cal to win both Donny races and end up with a 6 point lead. Besides: there's a lot of the championship still to run.

Without taking sides in any way, the news is old now. If that's the decision that Airwaves want to make, then so be it. You can all argue to your hearts' content, but it won't make anyone change their mind, so just enjoy the racing that the weekend brings because there are still a whole load of riders that are ready to give the fans some good racing over the Bank Holiday.

I bet you my bike that if Shakey did not have such a big lead they would not have pulled out, this is pure posturing by the Airwaves team and is worthly of F1-type politics, I hope they rue this decision.

Dry yer eyes Colin, and be thankful that your are even allowed to race a bike which is not at all homologated. I have a feeling that the 1098R will be like the FP-1 for homologation rules but it wont be ****.

OK here's a theory for you....

Why doesnt airwaves use the friday and saturday as test sessions to see if the extra weight is ok? If its not then dont race or do if it is ok.
I know the point Colin is trying to make is that this is unfair and he/they should have had more notice and consultation, but they have to test at some point and they are already booked in to donnington..??

Ignoring the point that Ducati shouldn't be allowed to race a 1200(which i agree with, it should be 1100!).The rules have been made and agreed by ALL teams, so surely changing the goalposts a few days before the next race is unfair??

I personaly feel sorry for riders,they just ride what they're given!!

Dice , I think you'll find that a carbon fairing etc is not 10KG lighter than what was originally used all those years ago but the main point of course is even if the difference was that much teams didn't just bolt it on they tested it first , it's so simple and obvious really, the point being made is to make a team add 10kg of ballast to a motorcycle 4 days before the next round is wrong.
If you own a few bikes that people race on then i'd credit you with having more understanding / knowledge of such matters.
Airwaves have no problem with adding the weight for the round after Donington as they can get some testing and data to optimise the positioning.

READ AGAIN!!

KGs

165 Dry weight (questionable)

+18 fuel capacity

183 Weight at start of race - in the pits before sighting lap

-12.5 fuel used 20 laps + 3 safety car contingency + 1 warm up + 1 sighting laps

=170.5 End of race: Dry weight less fuel used @ 0.5kg per lap (25 laps)

+4.5 ballast required

175 weight limit - 1kg +/- tolerance allowed

This flap about 10KG of lead being stapped to the bike is way OTT

Ever considered this whole thing is being stage managed.

No Tim Bo, the points being made are in fact ...

1) Darrell & Colin knew before the season even started that they were very likely to get a weight penalty after 3 races.
2) Once racing started & they built up the points lead they have it was even more of a certainty.
3) If they havent tested the bike with extra weights before now, they havent done the necessary preparation. Their fault not MCRCB
4) The 'safety' cry is a smoke screen to try for public support / a sympathetic ear / just 1 extra race without weight / an excuse for making an issue in the press. 'Safety' gets abused often as an excuse to push through many rules in all forms of motorsport.

Dice - Proposals at the end of last season orginally were a 5kg addition , something to which Airwaves have tested , the 10kg was a surprise and isn't an issue , purely the timing of it , they'll be back at the next round.