Page 111 - FAST 2026 Calendar Yearbook

Left page: The new 890cc V2 Supersportis somewhat comparable 30 years later to the 2nd Generation Ducati Superbike (above) from 1993-2004 which was offered in 916, 955, 996,
998 and 748cc displacements. The initial production 1993 Ducati 916, a landmark superbike, featured a 916cc, liquid-cooled, 90° V-twin desmodromic engine with 114 horsepower at
9,000 rpm, a trellis frame, and a single-sided swingarm. Weight was 194.5 kg / 429 lb dry. The Termignoni Full Racing Exhaust probably brought the power up over 120hp, just like the
new 890cc V2. My own 998S Final Edition (above) with the Corse Magnesium Swingarm and forged Marchesini wheels only weighs 888lbs, similar to the V2/V2S at 394/385 lbs.
Ironically, the new 2025 model year 890cc V2 Supersort which makes 120 hp @
10,750 rpm / 69 lb-ft torque @ 8,250 rpm, makes no more power than the Generation
One 1992 Ducati 888cc Desmoquatro Superbike. With racing exhausts added, the power
on both bikes is upped closer to 130 hp (actually 126hp on the new V2, and 10lbs lighter).
That’s not much to brag about for Ducati’s new V2 after 43 years of technical evolution.
But keep in mind as a Supersport race bike under FIA rules, they like to keep Supersport
class bikes around 120-130hp. So there was really no need to give the new bike a
desmodromic head and more horsepower, and the streetbike rider comes out the winner
with a more affordable and easier to maintain sportbike.
For myself, a hard-core Ducati Superbike racer and collector, my favorite is the 5th
Generation V2 Panigale desmo Superquadro in 955, 1199 and 1299cc configurations. It is
a small, light, easy to ride and the most beautiful of all 6 Generations, with the beautiful
desmo sound and the iconic Ducati single sided swingarm. The Superbike homologation
1199R makes 234hp, as much as a 6th 999cc Generation V4R with gobs more torque
making the 1199R easier to ride. Plus the 1199R is 10 lbs lighter than this new V2R mak-
ing me wonder how this engine can be 21 lbs lighter than the Gen 5 Superquadro engine?
For me, until I get to ride this new 2025 model year V2R, my Supersport bike of
choice would be the Gen 5 Panigale 955cc with its 155 hp @ 10,750 rpm / 76.,7 lb-ft
torque @ 9,000 rpm. I think this will be THE Ducati Supersport bike coveted by collectors
in years to come.
Shown on this page above is Ducati’s most iconic and collectable bike, the 2nd
Generation Superbike which from 1993-2004 was offered in 916, 955, 996, 998 and
748cc displacements. I think this new V2 Supersport could be considered the 30-year
later successor to this incredible generation. Both are iconic V-twin bikes about the same
size and weight, good looks, and in the inital introduction 916cc displacement they are
quite similar in power and torque. And you can see the new V2 mimics the somewhat simi-
lar high exhaust pipes. The new V2 also provides more comfortable ergonomics with a
better shaped gas tank and higher positioned handlebars.
The bike shown here is my 2nd Generation 2004 998S Final Edition which is
highly modified with a 999cc 999R Testastretta engine with 150+hp, Termignoni Race Ex-
haust, Forged Marchesini race wheels, Magnesium swingarm. It weighs just 388lbs. The
Ducati factory Superbike 999RS motors turning higher RPMs with hotter cams, and higher
compression pistons for higher Octane race gas made 188hp.
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