Superbikes news - James Whitham predicts no rev drop for Ducati

Since the start of last year, WorldSBK organisers have been able to adjust engine revolutions on the bikes after the third, sixth and ninth rounds of the season according to performances up until then. At these points, revs can be increased or decreased by 250 for each manufacturer in order to balance out the competition.

However, former race winner Whitham reckons this will not happen for the thus far dominant and all-new Ducati Panigale V4 R ridden by pace-setter Alvaro Bautista.

“Clearly Bautista and the Ducati V4 are dominating the championship, but nobody else on a Ducati is,” Whitham tells Eurosport co-commentator Greg Haines in Wednesday’s #FullThrottle podcast. “That means, come the end of the Aragon meeting which is the first opportunity for the organisers to reset the rev limits, it won’t happen because nobody else is dominating.

“Only one bike (from a manufacturer) dominating is not enough for the rules to kick in. I don’t think we will see any balancing. Taking revs away from them, so they can’t rev the bike as much, would be the easiest way of clipping its wings.”

World Superbikes has two weekends off before the season continues with back-to-back rounds in Spain and The Netherlands. To date, ex MotoGP man Bautista has scored a maximum six race wins while four-time World Champion Jonathan Rea has limited the damage with the same amount in second places.

Greg Haines chats with James Whitham following another weekend of World Superbike dominance for Alvaro Bautista, with Whit predicting that Ducati will not receive a drop in revs when organisers first have a chance to change things next month.

The guys also talk through Eugene Laverty’s break failure and predict the round when fans can expect some real action.

Greg Haines chats with Tarran Mackenzie about the most open British Superbikes Championship in years, including his own prospects and those of Scott Redding and Xavi Fores.

Meanwhile, three-time BSB winner – and father of Tarran - Niall Mackenzie reflects on the opening weekend of MotoGP action, previews the upcoming Thailand round of WorldSBK following Alvaro Bautista in Phillip Island and tips his favourites ahead of the BSB season.

Greg Haines asks Ducati’s technical co-ordinator, Marco Zambenedetti, and Kawasaki crew chief Pere Riba to try and explain Alvaro Bautista’s dominance in Phillip Island and what it means for the rest of the World Superbikes season. We also pay tribute to Prodigy frontman, and huge motorbike enthusiast, Keith Flint, who passed away this week.

Now the dust has settled on an amazing first weekend of WorldSBK action in 2019 Greg Haines, James Whitham and assorted guests try to make sense of Alvaro Bautista's remarkable start. Why did he win so comfortably? Will the other riders be worried? and what can the others - including reigning champion Jonathan Rea - do to catch him in the next round?

Eurosport's Greg Haines catches up with James Whitham to preview the 2019 World Superbikes season. They answer questions from fans on the new rules, the top riders and also throw in their views on new BSB star Scott Redding...