Superbike cup rider Malcolm Ashley has called into question the validity of NW200 Ducati’s entry into the class, claiming it goes against everything the cup stands for.

Ashley, who is currently suffering with a broken kneecap sustained in a crash at Brands, insists his views are not sour grapes – just that the cup competition is designed to bring on riders in teams which are running on a limited budget and the NW200 bike simply isn’t that.

He said: “Everybody has got an angle or a comment on situations. I am a representative for the Superbike Cup with the BRTA (British Race Teams Association) and the reason I did this is because these people are in charge of my money and I care very much about my racing.

“The Cup competition was designed to bring riders into Superbike who may not have a massive budget, paid mechanics, a wage and so on. The Ducati is a 1200cc Superstock bike, which is lapping loads faster than Superstock bikes in their class. I am not sure that slicks and a quick-shifter can make such a massive difference to the standard Superstock bike and the times it is capable of. It’s a 1200cc bike and that the old adage 'no substitute for cubes' springs to mind.”

This is not a sore loser's vendetta against John Laverty or his team. Ashley said: “I am just not sure that this Ducati fits in the Cup championship. Perhaps as he [John] has scored points in the main championship, and I am sure will regularly score points in the main championship, he should be part of that.

“John is a very talented rider and I am sure he will give Michael Rutter a run this year especially if they tune the bike a little more to match the '200' bike. The cost will be the same as regards maintenance as the rules for all bikes and their engines are now Supersport rules.”

The decision not to allow Laverty into the Superstock class and put him in the Superbike Cup was made not long before the season began and the 1098R motor has been stripped and given the all clear as it meets with the regulations.

Ashley said: “'It's good to have the bike in the class, it shows what the standard bike can do, but it just showed up, there was no warning about it coming and it just proves that a 1200cc stocker can beat a £30,000 race bike.”

Ashley is a staunch supporter of the cup championship and said: “For the cup as a whole I am happy as it is. It needs more sponsorship as we are only racing for £500. I am not complaining and nobody makes you do it, but we have to control the budget.

“It's good to be able to make it to the end of the year, but you need more money to be able to compete. I personally would like to see the practice sessions whittled down to 30 minutes to reduce costs then the time could be given to less experience classes.”