Frankies 998/999 whats that all about?
 

I believe that his 998 is carrying a 999 engine. Did they ever make a 998 with a 999 engine? I think they did but I am not certain, if not how does that for with homologation rules?

think I have part answered it myself after a bit if a search, - an FO2 has a 999 engine, - although Frankie is not on a FO2, he keeps telling us he is on his last year bike which was the bike from the year before that, he did not have a FO2 last year.
So anyway back to homolgation rules then?

Are your from Bologna Mr Chili, no thats ok, we don't need to check your bike, move over for that Honda thing will you. I love it. :roll:

He has a 2 year old 998RS, with a 2004 999 RS engine fitted. He was quoted in saying he is riding a 998.5RS.

Hey, i'm sure, for once, the rules can be over looked.......... :lol:

It's when he turns up, with a 998RS with a 'sedici engine in the bike i think they might say something! :lol:

[Edited on 19-4-2004 by flanker]

998? 998?
 

If it looks like a 998, and it sounds like a 998, and goes better than a 999 .... then it's probably a 998 ! QED :lol::lol::lol:

The homologation rules are pretty slack, anyone bought a road going FPR 1 yet?

2002 998r had the latest shortstroke 999r motor.

You are allowed a certain amount of mixing and matching but they would probabaly draw the line at sticking some 999 bodywork on a 998!!

Racing is not always about having the latest kit but, a big difference is confidence and whats going on in your head.

A top result for an old boy who thought he would be selling ice creams a couple of years ago before he set up his own team.

You will struggle to find a more popular bloke in the paddock.

What a dilemma for Ducati Corse, happy that a local boy has won but on a old yellow bike!!?

Ray

B*gg*r !
 

.. forgot it was yellow .. :(

:sing::sing::sing::sing:

If you believe "mostly crap news", Ducati is less than happy with what Chili is doing with "mixing and matching". Doesn't seem to fit with their marketing strategy. Hmmm, I wonder why that would be...

Still, the real reason Chili won that second race has much more to do with the fact that he gambled on an intermediate rear. Everyone else was on full wets. If Laconi had been on intermediates, Chili would not have won. Simple as that, little to do with the bike.

This doesn't take anything away from Chili's win, but it does point out that (plagiarising from a certain Mr. Lemond) "it's not about the bike".

[Edited on 21-4-2004 by Felix]

Ducati marketing

Anyone else feel that Ducati as a company is going down a similar road to Harley D, where the marketing / "lifestyle" thing is more important than the bikes ?

It's probably a slightly naive point, but I do find the extensive Ducati branding a bit disconcerting.

Just my opinion of course

I suspect with the same tyres on a 999 he would NOT have won.
I fail to see why Ducati have to stop making the 998, has its sale numbers vastly dropped off especially when compared to the 999. Did the article in MCN not say that Ducati Fans helped determine what they produced. Is there not room for both so customers/fans have a choice.

Maybe you're right, skidlids. But, had Laconi had the same tyre as Chili, Chili would definitely NOT have won. Chili knows the 999 is faster, hence he used the 999 engine. He just can't get his confidence on the 999.

Being the size of Ducati as a company, they simply can't afford to produce two Superbikes. They have to move on. I think their direction makes sense.

As far as marketing, branding is hugely important. I would draw the parallel with Ferrari, rather than H/D. Again, I think it's a good thing and vital to their health as a company.

MCN are saying that he had a modded 998R engine!!
 

Yeah, right! MCN = most crap news! The bore and stroke is probably the same, but that's were all similarity ends.

Maybe Felix but IF Laconi had the same tyres he may have fell off on the first lap, thats racing.

Chili is on the Ducati website as having a 998RS03, which I suspect is a 998F02 - the same bike Bayliss didn't win the championship on.

Usually the previous year's factory bike (the F bit) becomes the customer spec bike (the RS one) for that season.

So this year's 999RS04 would have been last year's 999F03 - Hodgson's bike.

Ducati won't give the same bikes/engines to it's customers as it has for the factory team - same in MotoGP.

Besides, the engine from the 998F02/998RS03 would indeed be the same 999cc engine from the 999 range, just without the go-faster improvement the factory have made.

As for tyres - it doesn't really matter as Chili made an excellent, experienced choice to run the tyre he did and it worked out right for him in the end.

It's his local track and you can't help feeling that he knew what the weather would do and made his tyre choice accordingly.

Probably! :D