IOM doesn't anyone here care? Spoiler Alert *** Isle Of Man TT 2014

ScrapperX said:

I would imagine it would be very hard to set up the rear suspension on the 1199 to make it competitive for road racing. After the first pratice lap all your teeth would be missing and you would instantly turn into a midget from the compression of your spine.

TT 2013 Dainese Superbike Results


Posn: 49 No: 81 Competitor: Rafael Paschoalin Machine: 2012 Ducati 1199 S Time: 01:45:21.799 Speed: 128.914

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Why is the top speed so low?? I mean come on.. we've all done faster than that I am sure

Thats Average Speed I believe. The course averages (from the top riders) is about 130mph.

Ah..My bad... I see that now...Oooops...

farmind said:

Looking through the Superstock and the Superbike lists for the Isle of Man TT there is no Ducati 1199, I can understand in the past maybe the 1098 1198 etc weren't agile enough for the road race but surly the 1199 is, is there maybe a characteristic reason?

The 2012 specification for entries into the Superstock TT race are defined as;-

Any machine complying with the following specifications:
Superstock TT: (Machines complying with the 2012 FIM Superstock Championships specifications)
Over 600cc up to 1000cc 4 cylinders 4-stroke
Over 750cc up to 1000cc 3 cylinders 4-stroke
Over 850cc up to 1200cc 2 cylinders 4-stroke

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I wouldn't race the IOM for free. Honda, BMW, Suzuki, Yamaham have unlimited budgets. It's easy for them to dump serious sponsor money on the IOM.

I'm not sure, but the huge speeds on that track, you already know you're at a disadvantage with a smaller twin bike. Maybe it's just not the right type of bike at all. It seems to me that all the fast bikes at the TT are 4's. It's not really the type of race where I'd want to try something different.

And most of the TT lap is at WOT. Historically in WSBK Ducati doesn't fare well on high speed horsepower tracks. The 1199 rules at Superstock, but if you're allowed to run a 100% race built, money is no object, race engine, a twin isn't going to have the top end power of a V4. So far, a flat crank I4 is the best format for the IOM.

Sustained high RPM's are another problem. A 600cc piston does not have an easy job at 10,000 RPM. Add in all the bumps, jumps, and ripples on the track that can sharply effect RPM instantly........the twins aren't reliable enough at the highest level of racing. Drop down to the senior class, and all is well.

Now with today's tech, the pistons likely wouldn't be as much a problem, but to erase years and years of knowing twins are at a disadvantage, while risking your life and fortune...........screw that. I'd take the easy way out with a BMW or Suzuki 4, or a Honda V4 (soon).

Also keep in mind, all the bikes at the IOM TT suffer a ton of reliability problems. Requires a factory budget. And Ducati doesn't really have that.

It's the Rider & Sponsors, I'm sure if Ansty etc rode a 1199 with the right backing it would be a front runner

BMW found the perfect, and only rider to front they're IOM effort, Michael Dunlop, the video clip of him flat out through Ballyscary, in a full tuck 180mph right turn WHEELIE says it all, he ain't afraid of the bikes insane horsepower delivery, and can use it all.

McGuiness and Guy Martin are such great competitors, humble in victory and graceful in defeat - the essence of true sport.

Open road racers are a different breed, the closed course scene has become so safety conscious and safe in general that riders routinely take cheap shots at each other and get away with it, whereas that same type of riding would have dire consequence on the open roads.
They ride with more respect for each other than their closed course counterparts, death is ever present. It killed me when Hailwood's win record at the Island got broken, but the guy that did it became legend and immortal, and now his nephew is carrying on the family tradition, great stuff. May it go on as long as motorcycles are raced.