Desmostreetdici

DESMOSTREETDICI

"LATANTA ROSSA!" exclaimed the announcer as he took the stage at World Ducati Week 2004-"So much red!" Yes, the "Red Passion" was in full flush at Misano as the Bologna-based bike-builder announced plans to produce a street-going replica of its Desmosedici MotoGP racer. With no complete bike to unveil, Ducati showed only an engine, but did so with typically Italian fanfare. With dry-ice smoke covering the brightly lit stage and the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey blaring from the speakers, the 989cc V-Four rose up through the floor to be greeted by a chorus of cheers, thunderous applause and the revving of dozens of Ducati engines. "This is a dream come true," said company president Federico Minoli, before explaining that the timing was meant to commemorate the 50th anniversary of legendary Ingegnere Fabio

Taglioni joining Ducati. That seems like a convenient fabrication, but when you consider that the Desmosedici (literally “Desmo 16”) is the ultimate expression of Dr. T’s desmodromic valvetrain concept, it’s fitting. You can’t raise your glass without something to toast, after all. Details are understandably vague at this point, other than that the so-called Desmosedici RR (for “Racing Replica”) will be justifiably exclusive-and expensive. Bikes will be built in the race department at the rate of one per day, and will cost 50,000 euros (just over $61,000 at current exchange rates). While there was no specific mention of production quantities, a good guesstimate is 200 to 300 units, with the first example to be delivered to its new owner at WDW 2006. Though performance will no doubt be reduced from the 250-horsepower, 220-mph racer in the interest of longevity, the street version will still likely be the most powerful production motorcycle ever. The race engine is radically oversquare at 88.0 x 40.7mm, but the bore may be reduced and the stroke increased for production. The crankshaft also will likely grow in size and/or weight for increased inertia. The most obvious change from race spec is the addition of an electric

starter in the crux of the Vee, the water pump that formerly resided there having been moved below the crankshaft. Given the low volume of production, the aluminum cases and cylinder heads will continue to be sand-cast, the valves and con-rods will remain titanium, and the valve and clutch covers magnesium. Yet in spite of extensive use of lightweight materials, total weight is expected to be on par with current Open-class sportbikes, due to the fact that the V-Four engine configuration entails two separate cylinder banks with their attendant geared cam drives. Questions about future mass-produced variants went unanswered, but word on the street is that these, too, are forthcoming. And when might that be? Let’s just say don’t hold your breath, or your Red Passion might turn Blue... -Brian Catterson