Ducati is bringing its MotoGP big guns to the street.
For decades now, the long-standing engine architecture for Ducati road bikes has simply been an L-twin engine of air — or the liquid-cooled variety. The forward-canted engine is the brand’s modern-day calling card. But that’s all set to change.
Earlier this year, Ducati confirmed it would be bringing the MotoGP-developed Desmosedici V4 engine to the road. It was only a matter of when. Belgian outlet MaxxMoto snagged photos of the V4 project bike testing, confirming that “when” will be sometime soon. The smart money would say Ducati will unveil the new superbike later this year at the EICMA Motorcycle Show in November.
Aside from the engine being developed on the MotoGP battleground, the rest of the bike will also likely take cues from the top-flight race bike as well, with aerodynamics playing a big part in the bodywork. Sources close to Asphalt and Rubber say that the bike will have electronic active suspension as well.
The current MotoGP bike, which this new Ducati will borrow a lot of its design and tech from, is one of the most powerful bikes on the grid. It has a tendency to leave the Hondas and Yamahas in the dust on the straights. And if this new as-of-yet-unnamed road bike is anything similar, we’re in for a treat come November.
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