[Ducati] NEW DUCATI 1098 F08 SUPERBIKE BREAKS COVER AT WORLD DUCATI WEEK

[veloce916 at aol.com]

Sunday Jul 1 2007 
WDW2007 

NEW DUCATI 1098 F08 SUPERBIKE BREAKS COVER AT WORLD DUCATI WEEK 


Misano
Adriatico (Italy), Sunday 1 July: The Ducati 1098 F08, Ducati's future
World Superbike challenger, made its public debut at the Misano World
Circuit in Italy yesterday with a number of demonstration laps in front
of over 50,000 spectators at WDW World Ducati Week 2007.


Two-times World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss was given the honour
of demonstrating the 1098 F08 machine, which is still in its factory
development stage, sporting black carbon-fibre bodywork and aluminium
fuel-tank.


The 1098 F08 has been undergoing development work at Mugello in the
hands of the Ducati Xerox Junior Team's young Superstock riders Niccolò
Canepa and Domenico Colucci, but for the Misano spectators this was the
bike's public debut.


"I just saw the new 1098 for the first time yesterday" declared
Troy. "It looks and feels good and although it clearly doesn't feel
like home after a couple of laps, I'm sure Ducati are moving in the
right direction and it will be soon. I've still got a few things to
concentrate on at the moment, like winning this year's title, but I'm
really looking forward to testing the bike at a quieter moment in the
future."


The 1098 F08, which will replace the 999, complies with the draft
regulations for the World Superbike Championship issued by the FIM two
weeks ago. In particular engine specifications are much closer to the
road version than on the 999. For example, the con-rods, the crankshaft
and the rocker arms are all standard components.


As for the bike itself, the level of elaboration is similar to the
F07 and in particular the frame is identical to the road bike, while
the swing-arm, front and rear suspensions and exhausts can be modified.

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