Difference between revisions of "World Superbike championship"

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In 2003 the FIM changed the rules to allow 1000&nbsp;cc machines (either twins, triples or four-cylinder) to race. Rule changes in [[MotoGP]] to allow [[4-stroke]] engines meant that the Japanese manufacturers focused their resources there, leaving the Superbike World Championship with limited factory involvement<ref name="1000ccSBK">[http://www.motorcycledaily.com/26jan011000ccsuperbikes.html 1000&nbsp;cc Superbikes May Save World Championship] motorcycledaily.com retrieved on September 13, 2007</ref> (only Ducati and Suzuki).
In 2003 the FIM changed the rules to allow 1000&nbsp;cc machines (either twins, triples or four-cylinder) to race. Rule changes in [[MotoGP]] to allow [[4-stroke]] engines meant that the Japanese manufacturers focused their resources there, leaving the Superbike World Championship with limited factory involvement<ref name="1000ccSBK">[http://www.motorcycledaily.com/26jan011000ccsuperbikes.html 1000&nbsp;cc Superbikes May Save World Championship] motorcycledaily.com retrieved on September 13, 2007</ref> (only Ducati and Suzuki).


2003 also saw the entry of [[Carl Fogarty]]’s Foggy [[Petronas]] FP1. The bike was developed under the previous regulations and was powered by a [[3 cylinder]] 900[[cc]] engine. With most of the field running Ducati motorcycles, the championship received the derogatory title "the Ducati Cup".<ref name="rules2"/><ref name="rules">[http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/worldsuperbike/24961/ World Superbike: Time for More Rule Tweaking? (Part 1)] speedtv.com retrieved on September 11, 2007</ref> The factory Ducati Team entered the only 2 Ducati 999's in the field, taking 20 wins from 24 races in a season where all races were won by Ducati. [[Neil Hodgson]] won the title on a factory Ducati.
2003 also saw the entry of [[Carl Fogarty]]’s Foggy Petronas FP1. The bike was developed under the previous regulations and was powered by a [[3 cylinder]] 900[[cc]] engine. With most of the field running Ducati motorcycles, the championship received the derogatory title "the Ducati Cup".<ref name="rules2"/><ref name="rules">[http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/worldsuperbike/24961/ World Superbike: Time for More Rule Tweaking? (Part 1)] speedtv.com retrieved on September 11, 2007</ref> The factory Ducati Team entered the only 2 Ducati 999's in the field, taking 20 wins from 24 races in a season where all races were won by Ducati. [[Neil Hodgson]] won the title on a factory Ducati.


===2004 - control tires===
===2004 - control tires===