WDW: MORE THAN PASSION
"We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold. I remember saying something like “I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should drive. …” And suddenly there was a terrible roar all around us and the sky was full of what looked like huge bats, all swooping and screeching and diving around the car, which was going about 100 miles an hour with the top down to Las Vegas. And a voice was screaming: “Holy Jesus! What are these goddamn animals?”
Yes, this could be the start of this strange story.
Full of gasoline, bang, Din Din Din, sexy babes, dangerous fellas, and so damn fast Ducati.
Red rockets ready to rip tires, to burn gum on the tarmac. To abuse the patience of the neighborhood.
It was a warm and sunny Friday morning when I woke up and I drunk a mug of coffee.
No cigarette in the morning. I swear I did it.
My back protector on, gloves and boots. Like a medieval dummy, but fully overprotected, I was ready to take on my Bro and Edo, a friend of mine, and to undertake the voyage.
My old but gold air cooled Hypermotard, equipped with the immortal Desmodue, really heats.
The Multi 1200 suffers the weather better the HYM, but Edo was in our same situation. Boiling point it was so near.
And, luckily, misery loves company, over 91500 riders, or better, DUCATISTI, were on the same boat, powered by Desmo.
Wait. Wait a second.
If you arrived at this point thinking to read a usual recap of WDW, I'm sorry. This is not what you search.
But if you like to find rare pearls inside the biggest Ducati meeting ever, this could be a soft tale, with some good pics and vids.
Let's go, NOW!
Once inside, damn, nope.
It was a little bit different. We were in the line to get into when we saw stars.
Rare and shiny stars! Yes, in broad daylight.
No joke. No kidding. No beer or Green Fairy.
Only the truth my fellas. Only what I saw. Only a shiny Mike Hailwood Replica.
She was alone in the ticket parking. As a maniac without a trench coat, slowly I approached her.
I smell every inch of her Italian body, her lines, her curvy tank. I fleetingly touched the handlebar. It was an instant crush.
A time travel in a blick. In a touch.
#MIKEHAILWOODREPLICA
Made in 1979 it was a celebration for the victory in #iomtt the year before. After something like 10 years without racing on motorcycle #MikeTheBike decided to participate at #touristtrophy only to test a new #900ss modified by #SCUDERIANCR . Well, he won. Beating the Japanese challengers.
80hp at 7750rpm
205kg or 451lbs
This is a second series made in 1982
A few details about IOM78 900SS
After the IOM winning some say that the three color of the bike, the red, white and green, were applied as a sort lucky charm. But most of us, me first, have to understand that the red and the green were the typical color of Mike's sponsor: Castrol.
Well, before the race the 900SS modified by NCR was assigned to Mike and a mechanic had to paint his bike with Castrol livery. And he made a mistake locking the green to the red line. And to save the situation he thought that could be not so bad to apply a white stripe!
And damn he made the grade!
Or these three Terblanche Banner
#DUCATI749
The flagship of the new design started by Pierre Terblanche with the Supermono.
A real race replica in scale.
From the 999 inherit the frame, with a new heart, leaving the old desmoquattro instead of the #TESTASTRETTA scheme.
In R specs it's a real track weapon. Able to gain a power uploading of more 20hp and pure and noble materials, in 2004 this little H Bomb was the more sophisticated Desmo made in Ducati.
118hp at 10500rpm could increase with the Ducati performance kit till 140hp at 14500rpm! Pure power!
#1000SS
Another example of Pierre design. He totally changed the design of the old 900SS, lined by Bordi and Galluzzi.
Pierre decided to adopt some ideas used on his Supermono.
And it was a real trick. Modern design, with a lot of Ducati stylistic and engineering features, like the trellis frame and the glorious pompone, also called Desmodue.
Well, my Fellas, this is a concentrated 3 days trip into one tale for one great event.
Leaving Mike under the middle day sun, I started to think about what move more than 91500 riders, which impulse turn on the light and let them think: We have to be there. No matter how far.
Traveling around the world to meet other Ducati's addicted. To share the passion with special people.
A great meeting that only a CEO like Claudio Domenicali would know how to improve.
Every edition new happenings, new surprises, new pavilions.
And this year a new format for the track challenge:
Goodbye Diavel dragster race.
And Welcome Race of Champions!
The brand new Panigale V4, equipped with a lot of Ducati performance parts, prepared for the Ducati riders deployed in the most prestigious race championship.
With a real guest Star called Baylisstic.
Did this name suggest something?
As children for the first time in wonderland or Luna Park, we were kidnapped into a Desmoworld!
Made of Termignoni exhausts, carbon fiber, and magnesium covers!
"Bro, Edo, Damn, look a Desmos, ah ok, I understand.
#DESMOSEDICIRR
A real replica of the GP6.
With all the noble materials used for the MotoGP.
produced in only 1500 pieces to celebrate the great 2006 season with Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau, Ducati never imagined that the same year of the DesmosediciRR presentation, with CrazyStoner, they would win their First MotoGP Championship.
A great way to celebrate this achievement.
200hp in full power set up, with Termi exhaust dekat and key up map to let free the hp hidden inside the Desmo.
See you later. And, Chiara, don't worry!"
Well, left my Fellas in good companies, I continued my journey.
Shiny pavilions, crowds of riders gathered there.
The Panigale Pavilion.
The monster Pavilion.
The RACE OF CHAMPIONS Pavilion.
But.
You could think "Why a but?!"
Because I love technological progress, the safety improvement gained with TC and other E-tricks, BUT.
But I love the mechanical Era.
Where everything could be repaired by hands, sweat and a little bit of cunning.
Where the greatest challenges took place: Imola '72, IOM '78, Santa Monica '86 at much more.
Or simply remember the street legal bike.
Maybe not with monster torque, or without the Desmo, banner of the Ducati till today.
But with a unique design that give expression to its DNA, the race, the sportsmanship before everything. So it was easy for me to reach Livio, Ducati Motor Museum curator.
And also a friend of mine. Livio was based at Heritage Pavilion.
A true temple for bevel Ducati, classic, and vintage addicted.
Once inside Livio told me that there was a project with, and it will continue beyond the end of this MegaMeeting, with Alberti professional Institute.
Professional school Alberti it's based in Rimini, where great skilled teachers like Rossi and XYZ involve young students in the knowledge of mechs.
Roberto Rossi
A great skilled professor of mechanic subject.
Freind of another great Man, Prof.Farneti, with his encyclopedic knowledge in motorcycle area granted a very efficient teaching, with the possibility for the students of Alberti High School to use a modern lab and work on his amazing jewels like the Moto Guzzi V8 engine.
By the way, Rossi with his genius and talent developed and designed a real revolutionary gas system to apply on a scooter.
The green revolution doesn't mean only the electric way, but everything that is able to reset the CO2.
And it's started years ago a soundless battle to bring this innovation on the road, legally.
If you want to support this amazing project, or you wanna ask something about, contact Mr.Rossi he will spend some good time with you.
Soon I will also write a review on Alberti and the teaching board.
Paolo Massari
Another great rider!, Sorry Prof, Professor who teach always at Alberti High School.
Why I called him "rider?
Because he is! In love with rally raid and enduro, won with Rieju, Spanish motorcycle brand, the DAKAR 2012 Marathon class. How? Easly, with his pro skilled acquired in Africa, and mostly because he loves what he teaches. Think about this aspect: he allows the students to test their ideas on the rally bikes! Work and study. The best match!
From the processing of alloys to the milling and turning of them. Passing through the restoration of the vehicles, no matter if equipped with two or four wheels.
And it's about this last point that on the left was placed a Ducati 98T, made in 1957, and it slept for over 30 years. The challenge? To bring it to life again.
#DUCATI98T
98cc and 6hp single cylinder made in 1957.
Developed and produced as a basic motorcycle with low performance, but once modified the engine with some tricks it was able to grant satisfactory performance.
In fact, in 1964 won the Welsh ISDE.
No pro engineers, no Specialized mechanics. but only 5 students from Alberti High School, that preferred to stay there to restore this piece of History instead of to spend their free time on the beach.
Could this be a sign of passion? Of course my fellas, of course!
Meanwhile, Edo and Mattia caught up with me just outside the pavilion. I was talking with Leonardo Innocenzi about the meaning of Sound of passion, after one second he turned on his Pantah 350, and damn, the passion sounds like this lil bomb, right!?
#PANTAH350
Pantah.
Like a Panther. Born with a small block. A small heart. Born for economic questions in 80’s (insurance and running costs low and you could ride it at 18) was made in ONLY 211 pieces. Well, you should think that maybe it’s only the little sister of the #pantah500 ! But, are you really sure? With a top speed of 112mph or 180 km/h and 40hp at 9600rpm, she was a real #Desmo ! The Italian competitors like MotoMorini 3 1/2 sport, or Benelli 354 sport or also MotoGuzzi V35 Imola were less powerful but were 10 kilos circa lighter. Only the Yamaha RD 350 was cheaper, lighter and powerful. But the Japanese bike was two strokes, with all pros and cons of this system ..
This #Pantah350sl looks like a brand new bike. It seems to take a ticket for a time travel in the 80’s! Leonardo Innocenti, the lover, pardon, the owner, spent tons of works, time and money to restore this little Jewel!
Maybe I closed my eyes for a minute or two.
But after a while, the sky changed its color, from a light blue into a dark grey.
And in no time it began to rain.
Only two riders decided to face the weather, and like riders on the storm, they rumble away on their 70's Scrambler.
#SCRAMBLER350
Produced in 3 series where only the second and the third Ducati has sold in Italy.
The first series, called Scrambler OHC 250, was a 250cc single cylinder motorcycle and represented a real revolution for Ducati Meccanica.
A sort of primitive dual bike, able to be at ease on road as off-road.
Thought for the boundless American desert, like Baja or Nevada, in North America became very famous and popular.
Was produced from 1962 till 1968 in 250cc, and the 350cc for only 2 years.
The second series arrived like a revolution in Europe; riding the American waves Ducati brought a new fresh air explosion on the Italian streets.
With its tank and the innate off-road skills shortly entered in the heart of young Italian riders.
In 350cc then achieved the nickname of "saver", cause the cost to maintenance costs were low, and with a great attitude to not break anything.
More efficient than the 450 it was probably the best choice you could do in those great years!
Funky time Fellash
Like these three pieces!
Which pieces?
Damn sorry, come with me inside once again.
Tha second temporary show it's this: The time effect.
On what? On an Icon of love, passion, and rebel. On a Scrambler.
Three phases.
A well restored Scrambler, that looks like a brand new bike: shiny and polished paint it's the best way to conserve its unchanged charm.
The right set up on carbs and engine, and dam, what are you waiting!? Go and take you girl and bring her away!
Interesting experiment, isn't it? And look! The WSBK Ducati evolution! Here and now (there and then) just for us!
#851
1987-1991
1 World Superbike Champion in 1990 with Roche.
The first Desmoquattro liquid cooled.
Desmoquattro means four valves for cylinder.
The performance drow till the great point of 105hp at 9000 rpm.
The weight also increases, due to the use of a new radiator, 180Kg, 396lbs.
The develop never stopped, in fact, every year the study on this new racing bike brought the new solution to reduce the weigh, increase the power and improve the handling.
Massimo Bordi was the designer behind the scene who gave birth to a new Ducati generation. The front view looks very similar to another lethal weapon, the 750F1, but the rear half its all new! New lines for new riders generation!
#888
1992-1993
The ideal link from the present to the future.
The frame and the body remained the same.
But the engine growth in cubic centimeters, arriving at 888cc.
It's benefited a great power increase, around 15hp, from 105hp to 120hp.
Waiting for..
#916
1994-1998
The transfer of power from Bordi to next Michelangelo, Massimo Tamburini.
Yes, one of the three Bimota founders.
A man who affixed his name to this bike.
Massimo started on this project in the far 1988, only one year after the debupt of the 851 in SBK series.
The gestation was very long. But it was woth it.
A new line, called immediately instant classic or timeless, that fall in love in 1993 at Eicma Show everybody who seen this bike live.
Small as 125 GP, fast enougth to compare its performance to the 500GP, the 916 was born under a lucky star.
Won a lot, 4 times World SBK Championship.
But the real revolution was the engine adopted to challenge in the SBK:
if for the street legal the engine was an evolution of the 888cc till arrive at 916cc, for the racing model the engine growth till 955cc.
Growing more in the 1996 till 996cc.
109hp and 190kg.
#999
2002-2006
Another revolution.
How to replace a work of art?
With another work of art!
Most of us, called for this mission impossible, probably cut and paste the design of the 916 modifying some elements.
But it's not Pierre's way.
A revolutionary designer, visionary, able to achieve this impossible target.
Strange, with sharp line and drawn on the front.
The engine it's the evolution of the desmoquattro, seen on the 998, evolved to the new TestaStretta, that will equipe the futur R model.
63 race won on 120.
3 World SBK Team championship and 3 World SBK Rider won.
What else?
140hp at 9750rpm, 117 Nm at 8000 rpm and 185 kg it was the only Desmo able to beat the other 4 cylinders Japanese bike with the same 1000cc limit.
She was simply amazing.
Thank you Pierre (terblanche).
#Panigale
2012-2017
A new revolution
I did not mentioned the 1098/1198 cause I was not careful to take a shoot.
Short digression: the lines move back on the 916 design departing from the extravagant 999.
By the way, we are talking about the Panigale.
Another revolution.
Trellis frame, goodbye!
Welcome monocoque!
A big V-Twin able to pull out of its hat 195 rabbits, hp, sorry!
164kg the weight.
And no World Championship won.
#Panigale V4
And Editor, the Damned RACE OF CHAMPIONS!
What da hell it's happened??
You know, you already know the answer.
So why do you continue to ask?
Why do you wanna know that the Baylisstic V4 was sold at the astronomical sum of 120000€?
Almost the same price of two Desmosedici RR limited edition, or one Supermono, or the previous fully WSBK evolution (851/888/916/999)?
Or the... I don't know sincerely.
But this is a sign.
A sign of new times.
Times that change. Times that are different from a decade ago. Times that maybe will never return.
But they leave a mark into the heart of every fan, lover, addicted to the old, but gold, glories.
After three days inside, the rain, the sun, the cold water and pizza, the free gadgets and the stickers, the girls and bikes, gasoline and gals, what's left?
Tons of hearts that'ss beaten at the same bpm, for the same attraction, for the same fascination.
For a brand that is more than a brand.
It's a community.
And after one month, what's left?
My Hypermotard for sure FellaSH!
Yes, this could be the start of this strange story.
Full of gasoline, bang, Din Din Din, sexy babes, dangerous fellas, and so damn fast Ducati.
Red rockets ready to rip tires, to burn gum on the tarmac. To abuse the patience of the neighborhood.
It was a warm and sunny Friday morning when I woke up and I drunk a mug of coffee.
No cigarette in the morning. I swear I did it.
My back protector on, gloves and boots. Like a medieval dummy, but fully overprotected, I was ready to take on my Bro and Edo, a friend of mine, and to undertake the voyage.
My old but gold air cooled Hypermotard, equipped with the immortal Desmodue, really heats.
The Multi 1200 suffers the weather better the HYM, but Edo was in our same situation. Boiling point it was so near.
And, luckily, misery loves company, over 91500 riders, or better, DUCATISTI, were on the same boat, powered by Desmo.
Wait. Wait a second.
If you arrived at this point thinking to read a usual recap of WDW, I'm sorry. This is not what you search.
But if you like to find rare pearls inside the biggest Ducati meeting ever, this could be a soft tale, with some good pics and vids.
Let's go, NOW!
Once inside, damn, nope.
It was a little bit different. We were in the line to get into when we saw stars.
Rare and shiny stars! Yes, in broad daylight.
No joke. No kidding. No beer or Green Fairy.
Only the truth my fellas. Only what I saw. Only a shiny Mike Hailwood Replica.
She was alone in the ticket parking. As a maniac without a trench coat, slowly I approached her.
I smell every inch of her Italian body, her lines, her curvy tank. I fleetingly touched the handlebar. It was an instant crush.
A time travel in a blick. In a touch.
#MIKEHAILWOODREPLICA
Made in 1979 it was a celebration for the victory in #iomtt the year before. After something like 10 years without racing on motorcycle #MikeTheBike decided to participate at #touristtrophy only to test a new #900ss modified by #SCUDERIANCR . Well, he won. Beating the Japanese challengers.
80hp at 7750rpm
205kg or 451lbs
This is a second series made in 1982
A few details about IOM78 900SS
After the IOM winning some say that the three color of the bike, the red, white and green, were applied as a sort lucky charm. But most of us, me first, have to understand that the red and the green were the typical color of Mike's sponsor: Castrol.
Well, before the race the 900SS modified by NCR was assigned to Mike and a mechanic had to paint his bike with Castrol livery. And he made a mistake locking the green to the red line. And to save the situation he thought that could be not so bad to apply a white stripe!
And damn he made the grade!
Or these three Terblanche Banner
#DUCATI749
The flagship of the new design started by Pierre Terblanche with the Supermono.
A real race replica in scale.
From the 999 inherit the frame, with a new heart, leaving the old desmoquattro instead of the #TESTASTRETTA scheme.
In R specs it's a real track weapon. Able to gain a power uploading of more 20hp and pure and noble materials, in 2004 this little H Bomb was the more sophisticated Desmo made in Ducati.
118hp at 10500rpm could increase with the Ducati performance kit till 140hp at 14500rpm! Pure power!
#1000SS
Another example of Pierre design. He totally changed the design of the old 900SS, lined by Bordi and Galluzzi.
Pierre decided to adopt some ideas used on his Supermono.
And it was a real trick. Modern design, with a lot of Ducati stylistic and engineering features, like the trellis frame and the glorious pompone, also called Desmodue.
Well, my Fellas, this is a concentrated 3 days trip into one tale for one great event.
Leaving Mike under the middle day sun, I started to think about what move more than 91500 riders, which impulse turn on the light and let them think: We have to be there. No matter how far.
Traveling around the world to meet other Ducati's addicted. To share the passion with special people.
A great meeting that only a CEO like Claudio Domenicali would know how to improve.
Every edition new happenings, new surprises, new pavilions.
And this year a new format for the track challenge:
Goodbye Diavel dragster race.
And Welcome Race of Champions!
The brand new Panigale V4, equipped with a lot of Ducati performance parts, prepared for the Ducati riders deployed in the most prestigious race championship.
With a real guest Star called Baylisstic.
Did this name suggest something?
As children for the first time in wonderland or Luna Park, we were kidnapped into a Desmoworld!
Made of Termignoni exhausts, carbon fiber, and magnesium covers!
"Bro, Edo, Damn, look a Desmos, ah ok, I understand.
#DESMOSEDICIRR
A real replica of the GP6.
With all the noble materials used for the MotoGP.
produced in only 1500 pieces to celebrate the great 2006 season with Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau, Ducati never imagined that the same year of the DesmosediciRR presentation, with CrazyStoner, they would win their First MotoGP Championship.
A great way to celebrate this achievement.
200hp in full power set up, with Termi exhaust dekat and key up map to let free the hp hidden inside the Desmo.
See you later. And, Chiara, don't worry!"
Well, left my Fellas in good companies, I continued my journey.
Shiny pavilions, crowds of riders gathered there.
The Panigale Pavilion.
The monster Pavilion.
The RACE OF CHAMPIONS Pavilion.
But.
You could think "Why a but?!"
Because I love technological progress, the safety improvement gained with TC and other E-tricks, BUT.
But I love the mechanical Era.
Where everything could be repaired by hands, sweat and a little bit of cunning.
Where the greatest challenges took place: Imola '72, IOM '78, Santa Monica '86 at much more.
Or simply remember the street legal bike.
Maybe not with monster torque, or without the Desmo, banner of the Ducati till today.
But with a unique design that give expression to its DNA, the race, the sportsmanship before everything. So it was easy for me to reach Livio, Ducati Motor Museum curator.
And also a friend of mine. Livio was based at Heritage Pavilion.
A true temple for bevel Ducati, classic, and vintage addicted.
Once inside Livio told me that there was a project with, and it will continue beyond the end of this MegaMeeting, with Alberti professional Institute.
Professional school Alberti it's based in Rimini, where great skilled teachers like Rossi and XYZ involve young students in the knowledge of mechs.
Roberto Rossi
A great skilled professor of mechanic subject.
Freind of another great Man, Prof.Farneti, with his encyclopedic knowledge in motorcycle area granted a very efficient teaching, with the possibility for the students of Alberti High School to use a modern lab and work on his amazing jewels like the Moto Guzzi V8 engine.
By the way, Rossi with his genius and talent developed and designed a real revolutionary gas system to apply on a scooter.
The green revolution doesn't mean only the electric way, but everything that is able to reset the CO2.
And it's started years ago a soundless battle to bring this innovation on the road, legally.
If you want to support this amazing project, or you wanna ask something about, contact Mr.Rossi he will spend some good time with you.
Soon I will also write a review on Alberti and the teaching board.
Paolo Massari
Another great rider!, Sorry Prof, Professor who teach always at Alberti High School.
Why I called him "rider?
Because he is! In love with rally raid and enduro, won with Rieju, Spanish motorcycle brand, the DAKAR 2012 Marathon class. How? Easly, with his pro skilled acquired in Africa, and mostly because he loves what he teaches. Think about this aspect: he allows the students to test their ideas on the rally bikes! Work and study. The best match!
From the processing of alloys to the milling and turning of them. Passing through the restoration of the vehicles, no matter if equipped with two or four wheels.
And it's about this last point that on the left was placed a Ducati 98T, made in 1957, and it slept for over 30 years. The challenge? To bring it to life again.
#DUCATI98T
98cc and 6hp single cylinder made in 1957.
Developed and produced as a basic motorcycle with low performance, but once modified the engine with some tricks it was able to grant satisfactory performance.
In fact, in 1964 won the Welsh ISDE.
No pro engineers, no Specialized mechanics. but only 5 students from Alberti High School, that preferred to stay there to restore this piece of History instead of to spend their free time on the beach.
Could this be a sign of passion? Of course my fellas, of course!
Meanwhile, Edo and Mattia caught up with me just outside the pavilion. I was talking with Leonardo Innocenzi about the meaning of Sound of passion, after one second he turned on his Pantah 350, and damn, the passion sounds like this lil bomb, right!?
#PANTAH350
Pantah.
Like a Panther. Born with a small block. A small heart. Born for economic questions in 80’s (insurance and running costs low and you could ride it at 18) was made in ONLY 211 pieces. Well, you should think that maybe it’s only the little sister of the #pantah500 ! But, are you really sure? With a top speed of 112mph or 180 km/h and 40hp at 9600rpm, she was a real #Desmo ! The Italian competitors like MotoMorini 3 1/2 sport, or Benelli 354 sport or also MotoGuzzi V35 Imola were less powerful but were 10 kilos circa lighter. Only the Yamaha RD 350 was cheaper, lighter and powerful. But the Japanese bike was two strokes, with all pros and cons of this system ..
This #Pantah350sl looks like a brand new bike. It seems to take a ticket for a time travel in the 80’s! Leonardo Innocenti, the lover, pardon, the owner, spent tons of works, time and money to restore this little Jewel!
Maybe I closed my eyes for a minute or two.
But after a while, the sky changed its color, from a light blue into a dark grey.
And in no time it began to rain.
Only two riders decided to face the weather, and like riders on the storm, they rumble away on their 70's Scrambler.
#SCRAMBLER350
Produced in 3 series where only the second and the third Ducati has sold in Italy.
The first series, called Scrambler OHC 250, was a 250cc single cylinder motorcycle and represented a real revolution for Ducati Meccanica.
A sort of primitive dual bike, able to be at ease on road as off-road.
Thought for the boundless American desert, like Baja or Nevada, in North America became very famous and popular.
Was produced from 1962 till 1968 in 250cc, and the 350cc for only 2 years.
The second series arrived like a revolution in Europe; riding the American waves Ducati brought a new fresh air explosion on the Italian streets.
With its tank and the innate off-road skills shortly entered in the heart of young Italian riders.
In 350cc then achieved the nickname of "saver", cause the cost to maintenance costs were low, and with a great attitude to not break anything.
More efficient than the 450 it was probably the best choice you could do in those great years!
Funky time Fellash
Like these three pieces!
Which pieces?
Damn sorry, come with me inside once again.
Tha second temporary show it's this: The time effect.
On what? On an Icon of love, passion, and rebel. On a Scrambler.
Three phases.
The first: the recovered.
It showed the effect of the abandon without maintenance.
No love, no glory for this dead bike.
The second level: or the first expression of unconditional love. The Alive.
A real beloved bike that was always cured with the right therapy.
Time left only little marks on its body, on its tank.
Like wrinkles of love. Expression of natural resistance.
The third level: the reborn.
A well restored Scrambler, that looks like a brand new bike: shiny and polished paint it's the best way to conserve its unchanged charm.
The right set up on carbs and engine, and dam, what are you waiting!? Go and take you girl and bring her away!
Interesting experiment, isn't it? And look! The WSBK Ducati evolution! Here and now (there and then) just for us!
#851
1 World Superbike Champion in 1990 with Roche.
The first Desmoquattro liquid cooled.
Desmoquattro means four valves for cylinder.
The performance drow till the great point of 105hp at 9000 rpm.
The weight also increases, due to the use of a new radiator, 180Kg, 396lbs.
The develop never stopped, in fact, every year the study on this new racing bike brought the new solution to reduce the weigh, increase the power and improve the handling.
Massimo Bordi was the designer behind the scene who gave birth to a new Ducati generation. The front view looks very similar to another lethal weapon, the 750F1, but the rear half its all new! New lines for new riders generation!
The ideal link from the present to the future.
The frame and the body remained the same.
But the engine growth in cubic centimeters, arriving at 888cc.
It's benefited a great power increase, around 15hp, from 105hp to 120hp.
Waiting for..
#916
The transfer of power from Bordi to next Michelangelo, Massimo Tamburini.
Yes, one of the three Bimota founders.
A man who affixed his name to this bike.
Massimo started on this project in the far 1988, only one year after the debupt of the 851 in SBK series.
The gestation was very long. But it was woth it.
A new line, called immediately instant classic or timeless, that fall in love in 1993 at Eicma Show everybody who seen this bike live.
Small as 125 GP, fast enougth to compare its performance to the 500GP, the 916 was born under a lucky star.
Won a lot, 4 times World SBK Championship.
But the real revolution was the engine adopted to challenge in the SBK:
if for the street legal the engine was an evolution of the 888cc till arrive at 916cc, for the racing model the engine growth till 955cc.
Growing more in the 1996 till 996cc.
109hp and 190kg.
#999
Another revolution.
How to replace a work of art?
With another work of art!
Most of us, called for this mission impossible, probably cut and paste the design of the 916 modifying some elements.
But it's not Pierre's way.
A revolutionary designer, visionary, able to achieve this impossible target.
Strange, with sharp line and drawn on the front.
The engine it's the evolution of the desmoquattro, seen on the 998, evolved to the new TestaStretta, that will equipe the futur R model.
63 race won on 120.
3 World SBK Team championship and 3 World SBK Rider won.
What else?
140hp at 9750rpm, 117 Nm at 8000 rpm and 185 kg it was the only Desmo able to beat the other 4 cylinders Japanese bike with the same 1000cc limit.
She was simply amazing.
Thank you Pierre (terblanche).
#Panigale
A new revolution
I did not mentioned the 1098/1198 cause I was not careful to take a shoot.
Short digression: the lines move back on the 916 design departing from the extravagant 999.
By the way, we are talking about the Panigale.
Another revolution.
Trellis frame, goodbye!
Welcome monocoque!
A big V-Twin able to pull out of its hat 195 rabbits, hp, sorry!
164kg the weight.
And no World Championship won.
#Panigale V4
And Editor, the Damned RACE OF CHAMPIONS!
What da hell it's happened??
You know, you already know the answer.
So why do you continue to ask?
Why do you wanna know that the Baylisstic V4 was sold at the astronomical sum of 120000€?
Almost the same price of two Desmosedici RR limited edition, or one Supermono, or the previous fully WSBK evolution (851/888/916/999)?
Or the... I don't know sincerely.
But this is a sign.
A sign of new times.
Times that change. Times that are different from a decade ago. Times that maybe will never return.
But they leave a mark into the heart of every fan, lover, addicted to the old, but gold, glories.
After three days inside, the rain, the sun, the cold water and pizza, the free gadgets and the stickers, the girls and bikes, gasoline and gals, what's left?
Tons of hearts that'ss beaten at the same bpm, for the same attraction, for the same fascination.
For a brand that is more than a brand.
It's a community.
And after one month, what's left?
My Hypermotard for sure FellaSH!
