Left to right: Claudio Domenicali, Frederico Minoli and Gianluigi Mengoli announce the Desmosedici Racing Replica on stage to fans at World Ducati Week on Saturday night.

Ducati Desmosedici Racing Replica
announced for production at World Ducati Week
Misano Adriatico (RN) 22 May 2004: Just as we predicted here in Pit Lane News 2 weeks ago, Ducati used the showcase of World Ducati Week 2004 (their the giant bi-annual meeting of Ducati fans from around the world), in a fitting culmination of a week of events, sport, entertainment and, above all, motorcycles to announce: Ducati has launched the Desmosedici Racing Replica development project! The red Borgo Panigale, the Italian MotoGP bike which has fascinated fans from around the world, will soon be available!

The announcement gives the official go-ahead for the project, which will make the motorcycle available within two years. This is naturally a limited edition, as is right for a product conceived as the first true MotoGP replica. The new frontier of Ducati's technological evolution, embodies all the fundamental features of the motorcycle competing in the MotoGP World Championship, ridden by Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi. The Desmosedici RR is another confirmation of Ducati's vision, as well as the company's ability to transfer their experience of the world of racing to a bike intended for the road.

Federico Minoli (President and Managing Director, Ducati Motor Holding) called Gianluigi Mengoli (Technical Director, DMH) and Claudio Domenicali (Managing Director, Ducati Race Division) to the stage to represent the two technological centres of the company. Together they are the driving forces behind this exceptional project. Together with Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi the Desmosedici RR engine was presented to the public for the very first time, as the heart of this jewel in the crown of Ducati technology, which was received with unbridled enthusiasm by the public.

"An important occasion, a historical announcement, yet another dream come true. The Desmosedici RR is the maximum that Ducati technology has to offer, in line with the tradition embodied by every motorcycle we produce: from race to road bikes." Federico Minoli said from the stage. " We are pleased to face such a challenge which, even if only in a limited number of bikes, will be the dream of all Ducati fans. An exclusive motorcycle which stands for the passion and ingenuity which are the heart of our company's identity. Naturally the two cylinder engine is, and will always be, the Ducati engine par excellence, destined to be the hallmark of all our products, our past and our future.

"Today we are launching an ambitious, important project: it will be two years before the Desmosedici RR will be available, but we wanted to celebrate this historic occasion with all of you. We look forward then to WDW 2006, where we will deliver the very first Desmosedici RR right here, on this very stage, at another great Ducati festival, an event we can all share and enjoy together."

The engine of the Desmosedici RR will feature Ducati's traditional desmodromic timing ensures rigorous valve lift parameters up to the highest engine speeds, and is the perfect match for the modern architecture of the four cylinders in L-layout, resulting in a masterpiece of precision mechanics; with 989 cc total displacement and four valves per cylinder, the Desmosedici RR engine will certainly be a new benchmark for the international motorcycle industry.

The technology used is at the cutting edge of modern production, a methodology which up to the present time was only available for race bikes. The cam shafts (two per cylinder bank) are driven by gears: a sophisticated, reliable solution which ensures maximally precise timing in all conditions.

The fidelity of the replica does not finish here: the dimensions are exactly the same as those of the MotoGP, as is the six-speed gearbox, which maintains its racing design and can be removed as a single unit.
The lightweight and durability targets have led not only to optimisation of the design of the components, but also to the use of the most prestigious and exclusive materials: sand-cast aluminium alloy crankcase and cylinder heads, titanium con-rods and valves, plus magnesium engine covers.

The engine is the heart of this fantastic motorcycle, but the chassis components are of no less high quality and incorporate the most advanced solutions, with the characteristic steel tubing trellisframe and the most refined componentry, all covered with an exceptional carbon fibre fairing whose aerodynamics were designed by Alan Jenkins, who was also responsible for the design of the Desmosedici MotoGP. The replica bike's final shapes has not yet been decided, but it only natural to assume that it will follow the lines, and technical and aerodynamic solutions of the racing version.

The production of this jewel of a bike will be equally exclusive: Ducati intends to limit production to no more than one bike per day, assembled with the fanatical attention to detail and extraordinary skills of the race division. The project schedule has been defined and the first bikes will be available from Spring 2006. The Ducati Desmosedici RR will have a sale price of around 50,000 Euro ($60,000 US). Owners of the 999R will have priority in reserving the new bike. More information will be available on the official Ducati.com website starting from next July 1, 2004.

Frederico told us the Desmosedici was being put into production because. " Ducati always races what it sells." But production of the Desmosedici would also homologate it for racing in World Superbike in 2006 should Ducati need to counter attack any high horsepower return to the class by the Japanese manufacturers with a production MotoGP based superbike of their own. But for the present Ducati intends to stay with their proven V-Twin Testastretta engined 999 Superbike.

Go To More...
WDW page 1  •  WDW page 2  •  WDW page 3  

Ducati Factory Visit • Ducati Museum •  Ducati Corse Race Shop • DRE Riding School