Ducati Desmosedici RR: MotoGP Technology For The Road

Motoring Channel Staff - 11/July/2007

Misano, Italy — While Australian MotoGP rider Casey Stoner is doing amazing things on his Ducati Desmosedici GP6 race bike in the world's premier motorcycle championship, and giving reigning champ Valentino Rossi a hard time, Ducati's much  anticipatedDesmosedici RR made its public debut in Italy recently.

The Ducati Desmosedici RR is a replica of the MotoGP race bike that will be launched later in 2007 for about US$65,000.

The Desmosedici RR looks almost identical to the Desmosedici GP6 race bike that Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi ride in the 2007 MotoGP Championship, and will be a highly desirable collectors item - not to mention one of the quickest bikes on the planet.

Vittoriano Guareschi was the lucky man who got to ride the stunning bike around the Misano Circuit at the during the World Ducati Week 2007 event, which was understandable given he is the official Ducati MotoGP Team test rider.

According to the media release, the pre-series version of the highly complex L-four cylinder MotoGP replica took to the circuit for a 15 minute session to demonstrate its incredible 200hp (147kW) performance and to signify the progress of the project as it approaches production. 

Ducati claims that some 170 people from 19 different countries have already placed orders for the Desmosedici RR - which is expected to cost upwards of US$60,000. The bike that was originally announced back in 2004, and now it's almost ready to roll.

The CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, Gabriele Del Torchio, was at the 2007 World Ducati Week and had this to say of its special edition sports bike: "The Desmosedici RR demonstrates Ducati's world-beating design and technological innovation and I am extremely proud to have witnessed its first public appearance in action. 

"This is a dream motorcycle that is destined to become an icon," continued Del Torchio, "endorsed by the fact that so many of the world's top sportsmen and celebrities alike have placed orders to own one. The excitement behind this project is incredible and WDW2007 has been a great opportunity to celebrate its progress."

As the world's first true MotoGP replica, the Ducati Desmosedici RR has an impressive specification, developing a freakish 200hp from its 1.0-litre engine. The record-breaking 989cc L-four Desmodromic engine's cyclinder fire in a 'twin-pulse' configuration, that mimics the cycle of a V-twin engine, and gives both the Desmosedici GP6 race bike and RR road bike their distinctive acoustics.

Ducati states that many technical features have been taken directly from the GP6 race bike, including: 

Sand-cast aluminium crankcases
Magnesium engine covers 
Cassette type 6-speed gearbox
Hydraulically actuated dry multi-plate slipper clutch

The rare sports bike is aflush with exotic materials, and the Italian motorcycle company explains that additional replications have helped the Ducati Desmosedici RR to reach its stunning 200hp, such as double overhead camshafts actuating 4 titanium valves per cylinder, gear driven from a crankshaft which has titanium connecting rods. 

One ingenious feature of the Desmosedici RR which represents a unique ground-breaking design is the 'vertical exit' exhaust silencer, hidden in the tail-piece.

Currently the only way to get one of exotic new motorbikes is to reserve one through Ducati dealers (see this weblink for dealer locations).

The director of product development of Ducati Motor Holding, Claudio Domenicali, (who also happens to be the CEO of Ducati Corse, the racing branch of the company), also spoke at the at the World Ducati Week 2007 event, who has personally tested the new bike and says it's top notch.

"I clearly remember the press launch of the Desmosedici racing project at the 2002 Mugello GP, and we were already thinking about building a replica for the street as a tribute to our fans all around the world. This bike is for them and for their passion of Ducati," said Domenicali.

"We are extremely pleased with the final result, the bike is fantastic both statically and dynamically. During my last test of the Desmosedici RR in Mugello last month, I felt that the main project goal had been fully achieved. The chassis is rigid and the engine crisp just like the racing Desmosedici and this is the very essence of the project: to leave the owner with a taste of our MotoGP bike."

Ducati said that after its unveiling at the Mugello GP in 2006, orders for the limited production bike flooded in, so getting one may prove difficult, but expect to see at one or two on Ebay at greatly inflated prices after it's launch. We understand that the bike is now being put through the final development phase, before going into production in the third quarter of 2007.

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