SBK, A Sword of Damocles hovering overhead: what does Ducati risk after Portimao?

World Superbike is getting ready to get back on track and will do so this weekend at Portimao. Obviously there is a lot of anticipation to see what the on-track form factor will be: in Australia Bulega and the Ducati dominated the scene while in Race 2 we saw as many as six Panigale bikes in the top six places, to the point of arousing the discontent of Toprak.

In last week's tests, however, held at the Portuguese track, the Turk proved to be irrepressible, so much so that he set the track record and slammed in massive gaps to his rivals. There is no shortage of curiosity because in Portugal we will have a clearer picture of the situation.

One thing, however, is certain: starting this year, every two rounds the FIM can intervene on the regulations in order to rebalance the form factor between the manufacturers participating in the Championship. Under the magnifying glass, then, is Ducati, which, should it prove to be a protagonist again as it was in Australia, might be slowed down.

At Borgo Panigale they are already aware that after Portugal almost certainly something will happen to the Panigale. OK, but what? How could they slow it down?

Until last year they were intervening on the engine revs, implementing a reduction of 250 rpm, while now the regulations provide for the possibility of intervening on the fuel flow, whose current value set is 47 kg/hour (mass value, not volumetric).

The calculation is made by taking into account the average lap time of all the Ducatis in relation to the average of the other bikes over the entire race weekend. Acting on the fuel flow results in a kind of "streamlining" of the carburetion. All of this then goes to affect the character of the engine, which becomes more abrupt and difficult to handle when changing gears, particularly when accelerating.

From what we saw in last week's tests, we are quite convinced that in Portugal too, we will see a competitive Ducati fighting for victory, or at least on the podium. Barring any major upsets, we won't be surprised if in the coming weeks the FIM decides to slow down the Panigale by half a kilogram of fuel, thus bringing the figure down to 46.5 kg/hour.