Back in 2008, Ducati made a decision that some would say was the worst decision the company ever made. It released the GP9 Desmosedici RR onto the MotoGP grid. This bike had a carbon fiber monocoque/frameless design that was revolutionary by motorcycling standards. Too bad it couldn’t win races. Not even the legendary Valentino Rossi could make the design work, which was really bad considering Ducati had release a superbike with a similar design. The Panigale, was thankfully a much better bike than its GP9 brother.
It’s Time to Say Goodbye to the Panigale
The Panigale was released in 2010 to both applause and derision. Most thought it was one of the most beautiful motorcycles to ever be produced, while others thought it would perform about as well as the GP9. Luckily for Ducati, the Panigale turned out to be much more stable than the MotoGP bike.
It went on to score over 800 podiums in racing, won runner-up in the 2015 World Superbike Championship, and scored 3rd in the 2016 championship. It has been recognized as one of the best streetbikes Ducati has ever made, and 2017 is going to be its final production year.
At the World Superbike event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Claudio Domenicalli—CEO of Ducati—unveiled the Final Edition Panigale R. This bike has the engine of the Panigale Superleggera, with less extreme more street-friendly materials. It is expected to cost somewhere between $35,000 and $80,000—Ducatisti hoping for a price closer to that 35-grand mark.
This model closes the book on the Panigale’s time at Ducati, but it also marks the rise of a new Ducati. According to rumors, the new model will be a V4 instead of a V-Twin, and it may even continue the legacy of the Panigale’s frameless/monocoque design. All will be revealed in November at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan Italy.
Are you excited? Keep up with the attorneys who ride at the Metier Law Firm to find out more about the successor the Ducati Panigale!