The project has been in the pipeline at Borgo Panigale for a while, but was more or less formalized in January: Ducati is preparing a production motorcycle with a V4 engine. Production motorcycle which, obviously, will serve as a basis for the machines defending the colors of the suburbs of Bologna in Superbike.
In January, officially, big boss Claudio Domenicali declared that he was seriously considering the production of such a machine. Five months later, this time it is Paolo Ciabatti (sporting director of the MotoGP team) who confirms to Speedweek that we are still working on this project, whose engine will come directly from the Desmosedici GP15.
Paolo ciabatti : “The 2015 MotoGP engine, which is currently used with modifications and in modernized versions, is a good basis for developing that of a production motorcycle. We are working on it and we don't have to completely redesign the engine. We just need to adapt the concept to a production motorcycle. »
The most passionate Ducati enthusiasts will therefore be delighted to learn that the project is continuing, but they will undoubtedly have to wait a little because it seems difficult to envisage a launch in 2018, while the motorcycles lined up in Superbikes will always be Panigales...
Paolo Ciabatti: “In any case, next year we will still be competing in the Superbike World Championship with the Panigale. I can not say more. »
Ducati is considering a fundamental change in philosophy?
“I can't contribute much to this. In a way, however, Ducati is undertaking an evolution of its plans for sports bikes. »
This high-end motorcycle will be sold in the premium segment, but at a reasonable price, and therefore much more affordable than the Honda RC213V-S at 199 euros (see here), its only real competitor with the YamahaR1M (see here) since the Aprilia (see here) and KTM (see here) Replica will only be intended for the circuit.
Illustration : Kardesign
