Ciabatti: “Unless the AMA adopts World SBK Rules we will have to withdraw.” Speaking in the paddock at Brands Hatch last weekend, Ducati Superbike Director Paolo Ciabatti said that Ducati will not continue in the AMA Superbike series unless there is some last-minute agreement in the AMA to adopt World Superbike rules, including an increase to 1200cc displacement for Twins whenever the FIM approves it. “Just having traction control legalized in the AMA is not enough to allow a Twin to compete with Fours,” Ciabatti told Roadracing World. “We need the compensations that we have in World Superbike. We need to be able to run a lighter crankshaft and to change primary gear ratios as we do here. Unless the AMA adopts World SBK Rules we will have to withdraw. Otherwise our 999 Twin under AMA rules is running at too big a disadvantage against the four-cylinder bikes.” Adopting World Superbike rules across the board would make AMA Superbikes faster than they currently are, a sticking point since the bikes are already considered too fast for many AMA tracks. Ciabatti plans to attend the AMA Superbike races at VIR August 18-20.