Next year it will be exactly 30 years since Ducati launched the 916, the masterpiece of the Italian designer Massimo Tamburini, who was called the “Michelangelo of motorcycle design”. To appropriately celebrate the 30th anniversary, Ducati has launched a V4 SP2 30° Anniversario 916, which will be marketed in a very limited edition.
Only 500 will be made, of the limited and numbered Panigale V4 SP2 30° Anniversario 916, Ducati’s tribute to the most important motorcycle in the history of the Italian manufacturer from Borgo-Panigale. The 916 was not only stunningly beautiful, but proved unbeatable in the Superbike World Championship.
Carl Fogarty won the opener of the season at Donington Park, won another 9 races that season (including the double in Albacete, Zeltweg in Austria and on the TT circuit of Assen) and became world champion that year with a lead of 25 points on 2013 world champion Scott Russell. With a lead of 55 points, Ducati won the constructors’ title.
In 1995, Foggy defended his world title with flying colors, won another 13 races that year and at the end of the season had no less than 139 points more than number 2, Troy Corser on the Promotor Racing Ducati 916. Among the constructors, Ducati had now 215 points more than Honda, which had taken second place from Kawasaki.
The 916 was also a great commercial success for Ducati. Despite its hefty price tag of just under 40,000 guilders (only the Honda RC45 was even more expensive at the time, the price of the other Japanese was around 22,000 guilders for the basic version and 27,000 guilders for the RR (Kawasaki) and SP (Yamaha) versions) the 916s sold like hot cakes.
That will certainly not be the case with this anniversary edition, if only due to the fact that only 500 will be produced, meaning only a handful will be available per country. With a price tag of € 50,000 (€ 44,000 BE), the Panigale V4 SP2 30° Anniversario 916 is anything but the kilo stunner of the week, but that will probably not be an issue for enthusiasts. In fact, precisely because of that price tag and exclusivity, the motorcycle will be sold out in no time.
What makes the Panigale V4 SP2 30° Anniversario 916 unique? Starting with its colors and livery, which are based on the machine with which Carl Fogarty won his last world title in 1999. Strictly speaking, that was already the 996 at the time, but anyone who might take offense to that, the engine remained virtually unchanged in design until the 999 was introduced in 2003 as the successor to the 998.
The iconic tricolor on the fairing, the white license plates and the Fogarty number 1 have been given a modern look, while the black part of the upper half is reminiscent of the air ducts of the 916. The lower part of the tank, also black , is a strong reminder of the racing world. Finally, the tank cover features the laurel-shaped logo, in gold as on the 916, just like the logo on the fairing.
However, Ducati has gone much further than giving the Panigale V4 SP2 another lick of paint. To underline the exclusivity, a numbered plaque with the unique serial number (XXX/500) is provided on the triple clamp and the special saddle has been given a 30th logo. Furthermore, Ducati has fitted the Brembo brakes with carbon fiber air scoops, while the exclusive carbon fiber has also been used for the exhaust heat shield.
The 30° Anniversario has a brushed aluminum tank, carbon fiber wheels, winglets and front mudguard, an STM-EVO SBK dry clutch, Brembo Stylema R brake calipers and Brembo MSC 19.21 brake pump with distance and pressure adjustment, milled levers, brushed aluminum footpegs with carbon heel protectors, a Monoposto seat and Ducati Data Analyzer+ kit. With GPS module, but the standard Panigale V4 SP2 already has that.
Exclusive to the 30° Anniversario is a fuel cap made of brushed aluminum and you get a carbon fiber open clutch cover, a license plate removal cover and mirror mounting cover made of brushed aluminum, for when you want to take it to the track. Of course you will also receive a certificate of authenticity and a special motorcycle cover.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.