The 999R is an example and this [new] bike will eventually come out on the market I think in the space of a year or so. This bike will not have a 1098cc engine but it will have a larger sized engine - we will be going up to the full 1200cc capacity - and this bike will be called the 1098 even though it will not have a 1098 engine. This bike will form the basis of our World Superbike race bike.
Q:
People have objected to what Ducati have suggested, can you see why they are objecting?
JT:
We understand, but we would like to reassure everyone that Ducati don't want to be seen as just wanting a 200cc increase. Ducati would like to be seen as manufacturer who request fair rules for everybody. At the current state of play we're racing with a highly developed bike, a highly tuned bike which is more a prototype machine than anything else, against 1000cc four [cylinder] Japanese bikes which are much closer to the spirit of World Superbike regulations.
We wish to continue in World Superbikes, it is not necessarily an ultimatum [to quit], but we would like for the regulations in the future to be fair and just for all concerned and in our opinion the 1200cc bike would put the twins on the same level as the fours. In our opinion it is the right way to go.
Q:
British Superbikes seem quite open to the idea, what do you think of that?
JT:
I have seen the possible future of British Superbikes. I understand that they will embrace 1200cc bikes but I also believe they will be based on Supersport engine [rules] in a Superbike chassis. I'm not quite sure of how that is going to go ahead, but that is my understanding. I'm not sure if it'll be the same as an eventual change in the World Superbike rules.
