Available in 2006, the Desmosedici RR will sell for around 50,000 Euro, which is very expensive for a roadster, but very cheap for a race replica of this exclusive ilk.

The Desmosedici is the first MotoGP replica machine to become available for the road, though rumours persist that Honda will release a roadgoing version of its all-conquering V5 RC211V machine.

The Desmosedici RR motor is the only part of the machine which has been shown at this point, and was the focal point of the announcement at World Ducati Week when Federico Minoli (President and Managing Director, Ducati Motor Holding) called Gianluigi Mengoli (Technical Director, DMH) and Claudio Domenicali (Managing Director, Ducati Race Division) to the stage to represent the two technological centres of the company. Together they are the driving forces behind this exceptional project. MotoGP riders (Australian) Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi joined the management on stage and the Desmosedici RR engine was presented to the public for the very first time.

“An important occasion, a historical announcement, yet another dream come true. The Desmosedici RR is the maximum that Ducati technology has to offer, in line with the tradition embodied by every motorcycle we produce: from race to road bikes,” said Minoli.

“We are pleased to face such a challenge which, even if only in a limited number of bikes, will be the dream of all Ducati fans,” said Minoli. The Desmosedici RR will be, “an exclusive motorcycle which stands for the passion and ingenuity which are the heart of our company's identity.”

“Naturally the two cylinder engine is, and will always be, the Ducati engine par excellence, destined to be the hallmark of all our products, our past and our future.”

“Today we are launching an ambitious, important project: it will be two years before the Desmosedici RR will be available, but we wanted to celebrate this historic occasion with all of you.”

“We look forward then to WDW 2006 (scheduled for May 2006), where we will deliver the very first Desmosedici RR,” said Minoli.

The engine of the Desmosedici RR will feature Ducati's traditional desmodromic valve actuation which ensures rigorous valve lift parameters up to the highest engine speeds, and is the perfect match for the modern architecture of the four cylinders in L-layout, resulting in a masterpiece of precision mechanics,” said Minoli.

The technology to be used in the new roadster will mirror current state-of-the-art race machinery. The four cam shafts (two per cylinder bank) are gear-driven and the six-speed gearbox will maintain its racing design and can be removed as a single unit.

The light weight and durability targets have led not only to optimisation of the design of the components, but also the use of materials and methods not normally available in road-going machinery: sand-cast aluminium alloy crankcase and cylinder heads, titanium con-rods and valves, and magnesium engine covers. Though no specifications have been mentioned for the Desmosedici RR, it would be reasonable to assume the RR will deliver more horses and weigh less than the current one litre sportsbikes from Kawasaki (181 bhp, 170 kg), Yamaha (180 bhp, 173 kg), Suzuki (165 bhp, 168 kg) and Honda (170 bhp, 179 kg). After all, the Ducati has been the horsepower king of MotoGP since its debut at the start of the 2003 season, regularly measured in excess of 340kmh.

The chassis components are of no less quality and incorporate the most advanced solutions, with the characteristic steel tubing trellisframe and the most refined componentry. The carbon fibre fairing is being designed by Alan Jenkins, who was responsible for the design of the Desmosedici MotoGP. The replica bike's final shape and styling has not yet been decided, but it is natural to assume that it will follow the lines, and technical and aerodynamic solutions of the racing version.

The production of this jewel of a bike will be equally exclusive: Ducati intends to limit production to one bike per day, assembled with the fanatical attention to detail and extraordinary skills of the race division. The project schedule has been defined and the first bikes will be available from Spring 2006.

More information will be available at www.ducati.com from July 1, 2004 and as is normal with Ducati, orders will be taken over the internet to ensure Ducati enthusiasts worldwide have an equal chance of obtaining one of these remerkable machines. As previously stated, the Ducati Desmosedici RR will have a sale price of around 50,000 Euro and priority will be given to owners of the current Ducati flagship, the 999R.