Ducati have already showed us their first litre+ bike ever in the Multistrada 1100. That was a upgrade of the 1000DS air-cooled Desmo that is expected to be carried on to both a Monster S2R and possibly to the Supersport.
The Ducati sports classic remains as they are today with the 992cc engine.
The new air-cooled engine based on the DS is now of 1078cc displacement. The liquid cooled performance engine is a brand new engine destined for Superbike racing. For some reason it looks like we will get an 1100 in 2007 and a 1200 in 2008. This might be a strategic move by Ducati to distinguish the range-topping R model from the standard and S versions. Only the 2008 1200cc R version (or 1198-1199) will be raced in WSBK according to our sources. This makes sense as both Aprilia and KTM is aiming at 2008 with their new superbike weapons and another years development is needed to get the best out of a new engine.
In 2007 the 999 will continue as the factory race bike as regulations have not changed yet.
Words: TS
CG: Robert O'Brien
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