Cycle News

Cycle News 2014 Issue 02 January 14 2014

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/241255

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 65 of 91

VOL. 51 ISSUE 2 JANUARY 14, 2014 P67 RED SAILS IN THE SUNRISE Chaz Davies readies for a season on the Ducati Panigale in World Superbike BY GORDON RITCHIE PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE W elshman Chaz Davies has once again had to change teams as a new World Superbike season dawns on the horizon. He won three races on his semi-official BMW last year and after BMW pulled the plug he has joined the official Ducati Corse team for 2014 – run by the same Feel Racing crew he competed with on behalf of BMW last year. The factory gig with Ducati has always been the most desired seat in this particular class of racing but after last year, and the near disaster that the Panigale 1199 became in top level racing, it looked like red was no longer a lucky color. Recent test results have turned that idea around to a fair degree, but it has to be said, the entire Ducati World Superbike project is currently a work in progress. Roll on the all Evo class in 2015? A reassuring thought for a rider in Davies' position, with a twoyear contract in his pocket. As a racer he wants to win right away, but he also understands that maybe 2015 will be his absolute best shot on the big Ducati twin. We caught up with him after the end of the 2013 winter test schedule to find out his thoughts on more than just his immediate prospects on Ducati. But that is where we began. How is it this year in an official Ducati team compared to last year in a semi-official BMW team? I do not know any different because it is the same guys I was working with last year, and I cannot comment on how the structure was last year with Alstare. But because this is a joining of Feel Racing and the Ducati factory I feel that the effort and every-

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Cycle News - Cycle News 2014 Issue 02 January 14 2014