Traction Control Now Legal in AMA
 

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

Not at all Paul ...
 

... 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 :)

I think I see handbags at dawn approaching!