Seriously? I'd not heard anything about that. Not that it matters, cos sportsbikes are no longer in charge. Change has to happen, motorbikes are in a shocking state at the moment. Not just on the racetrack, roadbike sales are plummeting all the time, and this has to affect any race series. Let's face it, there are some very high profile racers competing in the premier class without actually getting paid, and that has to stop. Motorcycle activity is most prevalent in Asia and India, where the small bike is king, so the amazing flights of fancy that are motogp bikes has to end soon, same as the 2-strokes, because it has no bearing on reality. Top flight racing is total folly, it doesn't mean anything. You have to be on the best bike, otherwise you ain't getting paid this week... F1 one doesn't suffer the same purely because they have money to spend, but even the F1 teams are suffering. Change is coming.
Oh Dorna are bound to fuck things up further yet. cant remember where I read the aprilia thing but I think its because of the way the rules of Motogp are going they may be forced in to that to continue with ART, I think they're looking for a couple of rules relaxing 'a la' Suzuki but I think its also partly due to BMW going as well. itll be a pity as I personally like the WSBK set up, I like seeing bikes we can buy (kind of) , its just easier to relate to and the racing is always closer and generally well battled. motogp is good , I love it, but to be honest its a bit bland at times and 1 race is hard to get through, I can easily watch both WSBK races as I can BSB, if they did 2 Motogp races I'd be asleep
Quick google found me this, again looks like a stupid Dorna rule is what's getting everybody's back up Aprilia to follow BMW out of World Superbikes? - Superbikes - Eurosport Australia
no business can sustain losses like that. if dorna was told it would have to operate a loss - it would either walk or fold. crazy
I guess this further perpetuates the rumour that SBK will be run to world superstock regs soon, leaving the manufacturers to go and flex their engineering muscle elsewhere, ie motogp - there'd be no point in the factories putting out a superstock team if the bike is that close to showroom floor spec. For me, I think that's about right. Superbikes should be as close to the bikes you or I could buy, and I don't think it would hurt the racing spectacle too much, as long as the big names don't bail out.
It is at the moment, but I can't see it staying that way. If Dorna are dumbing down motogp to some extent, it follows that they will have to do the same to SBK.
This is the direction for WSB next year - http://www.motomatters.com/press_release/2013/08/09/fim_superbike_world_championship_2014_ru.html
What I don't understand is if the factory teams don't like the Dorna rules and clearly they don't so why even bother? why not form a breakaway series in direct competition to Dorna, without any entrants Dorna cannot operate.
