BUON COMPLEANNO, DUCATI
Iconic Italian bike-makers based in Borgo Panigale celebrate 90 years of existence in quite a powerful way
SURVIVING FOR NINE LONG decades in a fiercely competitive global market is a feat in itself, and when the Italians do so, they make sure the world takes notice. When Ducati turned 90, the world sat up and mulled the firm’s glorious past, electrifying present and promising future. Incidentally, Ducati did not celebrate this landmark occasion by just throwing a big party; no, sir, they planned the celebration to coincide with the grandest festival of them all: the World Ducati Week. And it was at Misano that the company launched a brand-new 1299 Panigale S, aptly called the Anniversario.
We all know the highly capable 1299 Panigale S and its more aggressive sibling, the R; however, the Anniversario is closer to the Supperleggera, which was launched in 2014. The Anniversario is one captivating motorcycle that oozes style and chicness that can only be rivalled by the MV Agusta F4 RR. But then this is all about this particular Panigale, and it is a masterpiece, just like its previous iterations.
The Anniversario comes with the same, supremely advanced Superquadro V-twin that is mother to 205 horses; this engine is so good that Ducati did not bother changing anything in it, though there are a few pretty cool additions that make this variant an instant collector’s item. To start with, the Anniversario gets the next-gen Ducati traction control, called DTC EVO, which allows the rider to drift on tarmac and change the bike’s direction using the throttle. It gets a new red, black and white garb that doesn’t mimic a Ducati racer; instead it blends the factory MotoGP and WSBK team colours to create a new persona: high-end Öhlins EC suspension at both ends, Akrapovic exhaust system, strong and lightweight forged Marcheshini wheels in golden paint and a very special headstock that comes etched with ‘1299 Panigale S Anniversario’ and the number; yes, this is a very limited-edition motorcycle as only 500 units will be made. Such additional features make this bike a truly spectacular one. We hope a couple of them find their way to India as well.