According to an interview I read in Roadracing World, Ducati is replacing the 999 series bike with a 1200 cc version, not because they are not competitive in racing, KPaul, but to compete in HP numbers on the street. They wish to race what they build as their bread and butter sports line, not the Desmosideci which is the "halo" model. They've already talked the WSB guys into it as far as I know. If they aren't making a bike that can fall under AMA rules, and the AMA won't change their rules, then they don't play. Simple as that.