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Ducati 996 SPS Pista (by Ian Falloon, Feb 2022) ![]() For some, this will be the ultimate Ducati twin With the long line of
Ducati factory racing V-twins now virtually at an end
it’s worth recalling the
incredible success of some earlier engine designs,
notably the Desmoquattro. Between 1990 and 2000
the 851, 888, 916, and 996 Desmoquattro won eight World
Superbike
Championships. Their riders, headed by Doug Polen, Carl
Fogarty and Troy Corser
won 163 World Superbike races, providing an astonishing
winning ratio of 52 per
cent. There has never been any other Ducati racing
engine as successful or
dominant. The Desmoquattro grew
out of the air-cooled two-valve 750 F1 in 1986 and
represented a huge technological
step for Ducati. Introducing liquid-cooling, four-valve
Desmodromic cylinder
heads, and a fully mapped electronic fuel injection and
ignition system, it was
generations ahead of previous Ducatis. And Ducati
immediately saw a racing
future for the new engine, primarily in the new World
Superbike Championship
that began in 1988. As a low volume
manufacturer Ducati was only required to produce
homologation models in small
numbers, releasing limited edition 851 Sport Production
homologation racers
from 1989. They followed this with the 888 SP and SPS in
1992 and the 916 SP in
1994. In 1997 they produced the 916 SPS to homologate
new 996cc crankcases. By 2000 the
Testastretta was about to supersede the Desmoquattro but
as Ducati was still
racing the Desmoquattro in World Superbike a series of
homologation specials
was produced between 1998 and 2000. While the 916 SPS
evolved into the 996 SPS,
for specific homologation of certain components Ducati
offered very small
numbers what they called the 916 SPS Fogarty Replica in
1998 and 996 SPS
Factory Replica in 1999. It got very confusing because
the factory never
released official brochures for these limited edition
homologation models and
they were never widely available. What separated the 996
SPS from the standard 996 Strada was the engine and
ignition system. The SPS
retained the earlier Weber Marelli EFI with P8 processor
and twin injectors per
cyclinders. With 11.5:1 98mm pistons, wider stud
cylinder heads with larger
valves (36mm inlet and 30mm exhaust) and titanium
con-rods the engine produced
123 horsepower at 9500rpm. The 996 SPS was
updated significantly for the 2000 Model Year. While the
996cc Desmoquattro
engine was unchanged, new suspension made it the finest
example yet of its
genre. The 43mm Öhlins front fork now featured
gold-coloured TiN coated fork
legs and included some developments from the World
Superbike racing program. The 85mm steering lugs
were from the Ducati Corse 996, and along with new,
stiffer, triple clamps, the
axle mounting height was reduced from 110 to 80mm. This
allowed for an increase
in the extension of the stanchions to provide more
precise front-end control.
The rear subframe was now constructed of aluminium
tubing, using the same cross
section as the Ducati Corse 996, and saving 0.5kg. The
frame and wheels were
“gun metal grey” this year and the total weight 3kg less
than before, at 187kg
dry. The result of these
developments maintained the position of the 996 SPS as
the world’s premier
sports bike. It may not have been the fastest superbike,
but the suspension
improvements elevated the 996 SPS beyond that of even
the newer generation
Japanese and Italian machines. It was the purist
evidence of racing improving
the breed. Following requests for
more examples of the 996 SPS Factory Replica, another
series was produced for
2000. Originally this was to be known as the 996 SPS 3,
but it was officially
known as the 996 Factory Replica 2, and was primarily
for the homologation of
new parts for the 996 Factory 2000 World Superbike
racer. When released it was
designated the “Pista”, Pista being Italian for circuit
or track. Aesthetically
the SPS Pista was similar to the 1999 996SPS/FR (Factory
Replica). A Ducati
Infostrada Superbike team decal kit was offered in
addition to unique
tri-colour striping on the headlight fairing and seat.
Each example also came
with a limited edition numbered plaque affixed to the
triple clamp. Today the 996 SPS
Pista signifies the pinnacle of one of Ducati’s most
significant lineages.
Combining the highest specification production version
of the Desmoquattro with
timeless 916 styling resulted in an exceptional
motorcycle. While the subsequent
Testastretta was more powerful and refined, the
Desmoquattro in SPS guise
retained the brutishness and rawness that typified
Ducatis of earlier eras. But
as it was so rare the 996 SPS Pista has somehow slipped
underneath the radar of
collectable Ducatis and now represents a bargain for
those in the know. ------------------------------------------------- Produced by AllMoto abn 61 400 694 722 |
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