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Tests carried out by
the European specialised motorcycle press,
gathered at Spain’s Calafat GP circuit
for the 2003 MasterBike Test Week, proved
that a classic bike - the 2001 DUCATI 996
SPS - standard in all respects other than
having been fitted with BST Carbon Fibre wheels,
can beat the cream of all 2003 model sportsbikes!
Click here to
see the test results by fastest lap time
or here for
results by top speed.
The
Calafat MasterBike week is a unique motorcycle
testing event which takes place in early
springtime on the twisty Calafat GP standard
circuit in the South of Spain, between
Tarragona and Valencia, close to the Mediterranean
shoreline.
Attending each year are more than 40 press
testers, motorcycle racers and/or specialised
journalists from leading European sportsbike
magazines, from Sweden to Portugal, having
available for evaluation about 60 motorcycles
from that model year, of all makes and
models above 600 cc. |
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The
week’s test program consists of
every tester evaluating the bikes of
their choice, both on open roads and
on the Calafat circuit, the best lap
times contributing to the final classification
of each model.
It was fully expected by most testers
that the star of the show would be the
newest Suzuki GSX-R 1000. This was in
fact the case until a 2001 Ducati 996
SPS picked up the challenge and took
the week’s pole position.
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To
ensure that the Calafat testing week is
an independent environment, no lobbying
and no manufacturer representatives are
allowed to be present.
The result - which surprised many - was
that the Ducati, a standard bike in all
other respects, when shod with BST Carbon
Fibre Wheels, lowered its best lap time
from 1:32.25 to 1:31.05 and increased
its speed the end of the straight speed,
from 234 to 238 Km/h.
This deprived pole position from the 2003
Suzuki GSX-R 1000, which was credited
with a best lap time of 1:31.28 and an
impressive top speed of 252 Km/h.
What is most remarkable, is that neither
the 2003 GSX-R 1000, nor any other 2003
sportsbike present, from Aprilia to Yamaha,
including some SBK/R derived models, were
able to better the lap time of the Ducati
996 SPS fitted with BST wheels. |
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