Ducati 999R - 2005

Overall styling remains unchanged. The most race-ready of the 999 range is still the only model to boast carbon fibre fairing parts. The fairing's side spoilers, the unslotted upper fairing and other fairing parts are made from carbon fibre, making a major contribution to weight reduction. The 999R's exclusive styling is enhanced by a numbered data plate on the fork yoke for that extra touch of class.

Chassis

The race-ready 999R confirms Ducati's determination to bring their production Superbikes closer to their official racing machines. That is why the 999R allows owners the possibility to change the steering head rake angle, adjust the distance between the brake and clutch levers and the handlebars, adjust the longitudinal position of the seat-tank assembly and adjust footrest position. The only difference is that on the 999R the five footrest positions available on the other models have been reduced to two to comply with World Superbike Championship regulations which do not allow components to be removed from the production frame for racing purposes.

The reduction in the number of possible footrest positions has also allowed smaller footrest mounting plates to be fitted, leaving more room for the 999R's larger diameter exhaust collector pipes. In terms of power, efficiency and weight, the 999R is equipped with the best components currently in production. The Brembo/Marchesini wheels are in machine finished forged aluminium, and are manufactured using a special production process reserved for racing wheels. This guarantees a higher strength to weight ratio and gives a saving in weight of 3.2 kilograms per wheel pair over the other 999 models.

Brakes and suspension also represent the best competition components in the world. The 999 R boasts the very latest Öhlins fork incorporating major improvements to its internal components for an appreciable improvement in performance, comfort and precision of setup. The rear monoshock is also an extremely advanced unit and incorporates a non-return valve in the rebound hydraulics to prevent rebound adjustments from affecting other suspension settings. Both the monoshock and the front fork are adjustable in preload, compression and rebound. Even the steering damper is an Öhlins, and features an eccentric end fitting that allows the piston to rotate through 180 degrees to suit the two possible values for steering head rake angle. The two front disks are fitted further out from the hub to improve cooling and are combined with radially mounted callipers with four pistons and four pads per calliper and radial master cylinders with built in reservoirs.

Engine

The latest edition of the Testastretta engine used in the new 999R has been thoroughly redesigned from the cases up, taking its power output to a fantastic 150 HP, the most power ever delivered by a Ducati production engine. The engine has been radically modified to ensure that the production 999R is ready to race for Ducati's return to the north American AMA championship. AMA rules are more restrictive than those of the World Superbike Championship and require that racing engines be almost identical to the corresponding production units. This has demanded development of a new cylinder head to go with the 104 mm cylinders. Distance between the valves and valve seat diameter have been increased in the new head which has titanium valves with bigger heads but stems reduced from 7 to 6 millimetres in diameter. These new valves are held in place by conical collets developed for the official team 999's. Valve lift has also been increased by new rockers.

Complete renewal of the famous Testastretta 90 degree twin includes the introduction of new con rods and a new, more rigid crankshaft with improved lubrication channels. The fuel injection system has also been improved, with the introduction of 12 hole injectors and an increase in the compression ratio from 12.3:1 to 12.45:1. This latest evolutionary cycle has taken the desmodromic Testastretta to the highest level of efficiency ever achieved, demonstrated by a PME of over 14 bar, a figure well beyond the reach of other production engines. The engine's power and torque figures of 150 HP at 9,750 rpm and 11.9 kgm at 8,000 rpm are even more impressive if you consider that it is fitted with a road homologated catalysed exhaust and conforms to strict Euro2 standards. The race kit supplied with the 999R nevertheless allows owners to achieve even higher performance figures if they so require.

Specification