If you think the technical debate in MotoGP questioning Ducati's leveling correction is heated, wait until you see what the all-new WorldSSP has in store for us. In this new generation Supersport, the name of Ducati will again be often mentioned, but this time, it will be through the new regulations. The latter brings in alongside the Kawasaki and other Yamaha 600s the Triumph 675, the MV Agusta F3 800 and, above all, the Ducati Panigale V2 955cc. If in the first two camps mentioned, we will be satisfied with two machines respectively, at Ducati, we will field seven distributed among six teams…
Just reading the entry list, we understand that a R6 and ZX-6R cannot pit their respective technical specifications against competitors with larger and more powerful engines. But the regulation should level out all that, which is doubted by the Japanese sure values that the European newcomers necessarily contradict.
It is the track, as always, which will give its verdict but there is an experienced driver, a former World Champion in the specialty, who was able to compete with an R6 against the Panigale V2. An experience that is worth gold and that we owe to Randy Krummenacher. The Swiss, seven-time winner, analyzes speedweek : " the Ducati will weigh a few kilograms more than an R6 and it requires a completely different driving style. With the Ducati you have advantages that you don't have with the R6, but you also have disadvantages ».
“An R6 rider will not have fun fighting with Ducati riders”
« Ducati riders need to see if they can use the advantages optimally. If they can do that, I think they can reach a higher level than the R6. The R6 is mature, but the Ducati has more potential he said.
« I am very surprised to see how much the Panigale V2 pushes », adds the Swiss. “ An R6 rider will not have fun fighting with Ducati riders because you have to ride the Ducati stop-and-go. You can brake suddenly, straighten out and accelerate again. You can't do that with the Yamaha because it doesn't have the power. It will be fun to watch for sure. I expect all new manufacturers to be strong. At Triumph, the factory is also behind it and their engine runs well. The MV 800 is inherently very strong, it is a racing motorcycle » he concludes.
