From a press release issued by Ducati:

DESMOSEDICI RR: START ENGINES!

The Ducati project continues with the development and testing of the exclusive V4 engine.



BOLOGNA – Officially presented to the “Ducatista population” in May during World Ducati Week 2004, the development of the Desmosedici RR project is continuing. In fact, for the last few weeks the new desmodromic 4-cylinder L engine that will be used for the first real MotoGP Racing Replica has been on the test bed of the Ducati R&D department for the first reliability and durability tests.

In particular, the Desmosedici RR engine is undergoing motoring and firing tests aimed at testing the life and strength of the individual components subjected to the stresses deriving from the high power this engine can develop.



Testing of this engine will proceed as planned, awaiting the dynamic tests and the demanding and complex development course that will take this new Ducati gem from the track to the road.

An ambitious and extremely demanding project, the new frontier of Ducati technological development preserves all the basic concepts of the bike used in the MotoGP World Championship. A dream come true, and once again testifying to the courage and passion of Ducati, as well as the ability to transfer the experience and fascination of the racing world to a product also intended for road use.

This project offers a truly high technological level. The Desmosedici RR engine accurately reproposes the MotoGP engine: the traditional Ducati desmodromic timing system combines perfectly with the modernity of the 989cc 4-cylinder (4 valves per cylinder) L structure, using cutting-edge technologies intended exclusively for racing, such as camshafts driven by a cascade of gears, entirely removable 6-speed gearbox, in addition to the use of high-quality materials and alloys, like sandcast aluminium for the casing and heads, titanium for the connecting rods and valves, and magnesium for the engine covers.

The exclusiveness and uniqueness of the new Desmosedici RR will be stressed by meticulous care to details and assembly. And all this, together with top performance, will make the Desmosedici RR a new reference point in the motorcycle world.

As planned, the bike will only be revealed in its final form in November 2005, on the occasion of EICMA in Milan, while delivery of the first Desmosedici RR will take place at WDW 2006 where, precisely on the stage that saw the presentation of the project, the first machine will be handed over to a symbolic and lucky Ducatista, representing the pride and joy of this great Italian motorcycle manufacturer.