End of an era: PH2

Ducati waves farewell to the V-twin sportsbike

Ducati confirmed the news we were all expecting at the weekend as they released, and then subsequently bedecked their race bikes in the same paint scheme, a 1299 Panigale R Final Edition. And while V-twin fans will have a tear in their eye, this is a fitting farewell to an engine that has brought Ducati 334 race wins, 17 Constructor's titles and 14 Rider's titles in World Superbikes...

The 1299 Panigale R Final Edition costs a slightly scary £34,995, but it is only just shy of the Superleggera in terms of specification, although it doesn't have a carbon frame, wheels or swingarm.

Powered by what Ducati are calling an 'offshoot of the Superleggera's engine' the FE makes 209hp with 104.8lbft of torque thanks to the same lightened crank, larger valves and revised air intake system as the Superleggera as well as titanium con-rods and valves. Add to this an Akrapovic WSB-style exhaust system, slipper clutch and top-level electronics and it's a fairly potent package. And the chassis is equally top-level.

Ok, you are missing the carbon bits, but the FE gets Ohlins suspension (not semi-active electronic) and steering damper, forged alloy wheels, Brembo monoblock calipers and a very pretty paint scheme so everyone knows you are on an FE. In addition, although Ducati haven't actually limited its numbers, every FE will be individually numbered.

"Maybe no other motorcycle manufacturer has bound its name so tightly to an engine as Ducati has to its sports twin-cylinder," said Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali. "Today, we're here to celebrate its history, just as we stand on the cusp of a new era in which our desmodromic system will be used on a new generation of V4 engines derived from extensive experience in MotoGP. But that's the future. Today, we want to pay homage to a twin-cylinder engine that - thanks to incredible torque and compactness - has seen Ducati win races in every SBK championship it has ever participated in. In short, it's the engine that has written World Superbike history."

So that's out with the old, all we have to do now is wait until the Milan Show at the end of this year to welcome in the new V4 era...