Electronics key to Ducati success

Electronics are now the most important element in mounting a serious challenge in the MotoGP world championship, according to Ducati chief Claudio Domenicali.

Domenicali said intricate engine management systems are critical in the new 800cc era for managing high-revving powerful engines and fuel consumption with the new reduced 21-litre tank capacity.

“In this competition the most important thing is electronics. I don’t agree with people who say electronics are bad and take away from the rider. With these new bikes it is the most important thing, “said Domenicali.

Ducati have left Japanese engineers mystified at how the Italian factory’s new GP7 can run over 19,000rpm and not have any fuel consumption issues.

But Domenicali, who has seen Aussie Casey Stoner win three of the opening four races in 2007, said: “The only way our bike would run out fuel is if there were holes in the tank.

“We are still using a Magneti Marelli system like Yamaha, but the difference is that we have developed our own software. We have a system on the GP7 that calculates the fuel level, the laps remaining in a race and the way the rider is using the power.

“This system will never allow the bike to run out of fuel. If the riders starts the race hard he is likely to be slower at the end because of the fuel management, but we will never run out.

“We have been working on this software for a long time. Sete Gibernau spent a lot of time testing it before last season.”

Domenicali also said Ducati has developed a sophisticated fuel saving system for when Loris Capirossi and Stoner close the throttle.

It’s not the same doomed system that completely cut the engine when the throttle is closed that proved a disaster in early 2005.