2012 Ducati Desmosedici 800 Rossi Replica Anyone?
Fast forward to the end of 2011. Valentino Rossi has completed his first season with Ducati on the last of the 800cc Desmosedici’s. Has he won some races? Probably. The championship? Possibly. Whatever the result it will be the last time the world sees a 800cc Ducati racer since MotoGP will revert back to 1,000cc bikes for 2012. Time for a new flagship street model isn’t it? The Ducati Desmosedici RR 800. That’s RR for Rossi Replica!
It doesn’t take much imagination. The 2008 990cc Desmosedici RR was a huge success for Ducati with the production run, originally set for 300, progressively upped to 1,500 to meet demand even at the US price of $72,500 (never mind that you buy can a very lightly used one now for $44,000).
Ducati acknowledged at the time the D16RR was a proof of concept for such a low volume, high price product and that the factory wanted to continue to move up market. With an opportunity to sell a bike that is at the end of its useful racing life but nevertheless represents the apex of Ducati technology with its monocoque chassis (itself set to debut in the new 2012 Ducati 1198 Superbike), has won a MotoGP World Championship and was raced by Vale….well pretend you’re the CEO of Ducati and you decide what to do.
Earlier this year, MCN reported that Ducati were already considering such a release.
Ducati believes the switch away from the unloved 800s renders the GP replica concept valid again, and debate centres around whether a suitable amount of time has elapsed since the original 197bhp/171kg D16RR for the new bike to create sufficient impact.
link: Ducati Desmosedici 800 Roadster on the Horizon? | Ducati News Today
With Rossi in tow, it now seems a no brainer. The ultimate Ducati to date is likely to be produce more than 200bhp, rev to the stratosphere and be built in true limited numbers this time around with a more gasp inducing price tag to match. Try out $100,000 for size.
Photo rendering via sak_art.
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Personally think it’s more likely we’ll see s Rossi rep 1198 at end of 2011. Swansong year for the 1198 before the all new superbike, and whilst still at a premium price more affordable and cheaper for Ducati to produce.