One for John Bass....

John do you get MCN in Germany? Very interested bit on the new Ducati GP12
They(journo's and those in the know) that due to its rev's 19'000 its not a 1000cc
but a 925cc? Remember MotoGP are limited to 81mm bore size.

Reasons for doing this - higher rpm, same power as a 1000 but giving slightly less torque
which they can use without the traction control and anti-wheelie cutting in (Much)
Also lighter engine, greater agility and wait for it :- A lighter crankshaft!!!

John any reply to be 2 paragraphs maximum - if you want me to read it!

Regards Mike

No! I don´t get MCN here -- I did try to get the local newsagent to order it and he bluntly refused, seems he´d lose money....

I have argued all along that it is the amount of instantaneous torque which is the critical factor -- not the lightness of the flywheel*** whoops ! -- gone into 3 lines...

***Sorry about this postscript -- I have also argued that the heavier flywheel aids acceleration in its storing of more energy (than a lighter flywheel) which is used as torque-converted energy during clutch-slipping ....

Yaaaawwwnnn!

All the best!

Mike, you said about handling that it depended on rider preference whether he sat in-line with the bike´s centre-line or hung-out -- seems just what was suitable or -- comfortable ...??

Same with having rider-preference for a low-revving-HIGH-Torque drive out of the corner or having a screamer with the rear wheel spinning. Slick has dealt with them both: one rider wanting high torque and not so bothered about the HP at top-end-- and another who could only ride a screamer. Remember the days of 4 cylinder WSBs being less CCs than the Twins.I was at Hockenheim WSB with Slick and after the last practice he reported loudly to all and sundry that the Ducati was 2 seconds off the pace of the Castrol Honda. In the race the two Ducatis streamlined themselves behind the two Hondas and were 1-2 at the finish by the way they both powered out of the 3 curves of the Autodrome just before the finish.

The speed approaching the Autodrome at the start of the 21st Century was over 200mph -- 206mph by a Japanese rider -- I forget his name -- so the idea of tucking in behind a faster (revving) bike until the finishing 4 corners was truly good tactics.

Humble apologies -- fot this being too long....

CheerS!