Based on the motorcycle which is representing Ducati in this year's American Superbike Championship (AMA), the 999R has been significantly upgraded for the American market and, from 2005 onwards, also for the rest of the world. A new front fairing, new rear swing arm and suspension, a major upgrade to 150 horsepower for the engine are all intended to reinforce the bike's placement as a Superbike.

AMA technical regulations allow fewer modifications to the engine than the international Superbike regulations so Ducati, which returned to the AMA championship this year, has produced an engine with technical characteristics that are much closer to those of the racing version. It has redesigned the 999R to meet these very special requirements, and upgraded its flagship model to make it even more powerful, effective and competitive.



The new 999R is yet another step in Ducati tradition, which has always been characterised by the manufacture of series production bikes similar to their race versions not only in styling, but also in technical features.