Traction Control Now Legal in AMA

[phillc]

AMA have gone and changed their rules to allow bikes to use traction control.

This should really put the cat amongst the pigeons. My thoughts are that it will advantage the Ducatis, allowing them to get their torque advantage into play earlier when exciting corners.

(Edited so I don't look like a complete plonker....)

Full Press Release here - http://kapitalmoto.co.uk/node/109

[FiscusFish]

WSB already allow traction control...

Ducatis issue seems to be that to remain competitive the 1000cc v-twins need to be in a higher state of tune than IL4s and that costs more in maintenance terms.

[antonye]

Are you sure that traction control is not legal in WSB?

This brings the AMA in line with the rules in all the other Superbike series - WSB and BSB to name but two.

[antonye]

Ducatis issue seems to be that to remain competitive the 1000cc v-twins need to be in a higher state of tune than IL4s and that costs more in maintenance terms.

There's a great article in Motorcycle Racer this month with Claudio Domenicali (Ducati Corse) and Paolo Ciabatti (Ducati WSB) about the development of the 1200 and the reasons behind it.

Basically the 1000cc engine cannot be developed any more without great expense. Ducati cannot reach the same levels of power as the 1000cc IL4s, so they have to look at other ways of staying competitive - traction control being one.

The consumer market dictates that Ducati have to keep with the power output of the 1000cc IL4s, so they have to go to 1200cc - they have no other choice. The Superbike bikes are supposed to be based on the consumer market, and this is why Ducati want the 1200cc limit for twins introduced. It will then match their consumer product and make the twin competitive without the great expense in tuning and need for electronic trickery.

[skidlids]

very exspensive electronic trickery, I hope the Ducati AMA teams can afford it

[antonye]

very exspensive electronic trickery, I hope the Ducati AMA teams can afford it

It'll be gifted from Corse to boost the results - that I would put money on!

[Henners]

Spoke with Colin Wright (Team Manager GSE Airwaves Ducati) at Thruxton. He said the electronics are now so complex they have a full time Ducati technician with the team and GSE are not allowed to start the engines unless he's in attendance!

[psychlist]

....the electronics are now so complex they have a full time Ducati technician with the team and GSE are not allowed to start the engines unless he's in attendance!

So that's why you gone Deutsche then H, you got fed up with waiting for the Ducati technician to keep up ;)

[Henners]

... full on sportsbikes - they're ruining my bones! Anyway, if I can ride my GS as quick as you ride your Multistrada I'll be well happy :)

[rcgbob44]

I think I see handbags at dawn approaching!

[Ray]

The introduction of traction control in AMA isn't gonna help Ducati. Their problem appears to simply a lack of power due to the fact that tuning to the levels allowed in WSB are not allowed in AMA. IMHO.

The AMA championship is a bit of an oddball in that it doesn't have the same spec bikes as WSB/BSB and other domestic championships? Don't most of the good ole boys circuits go anti clockwise as well?? i.e more lefts than rights.

Would be very interesting to see Hodgeson back in WSB alongside Troy B to see what a few years in AMA have done for him??

AMA produced Nicky H who has done well on the world scene, did Kocinski come from AMA?? IMHO there is a lack of depth in the current field. B Boz looked like a good prospect years ago but has gone off the boil now????

is Colin Edwards ex AMA???

Ray.