Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition Makes Its Superlative Debut at Laguna Seca

The Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition represents the pinnacle of Ducati's twin-cylinder superbikes. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
The Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition represents the pinnacle of Ducati’s twin-cylinder superbikes. Photo courtesy of Ducati.

Ducati has released the definitive version of its superlative 1299 Panigale R superbike, the Final Edition. The 1299 Panigale R Final Edition looks to be about as close as the everyday rider can get to owning a WSBK-spec Ducati.

The Final Edition is powered by a Superquadro engine derived from the 1299 Superleggera, packing a claimed 209-horsepower punch at 11,000 rpm. It also features a lighter crankshaft with a larger crank pin and tungsten balancing pads, and the con-rods and intake-exhaust valves are titanium. Just like the WSBK engines, the two 116mm-diameter pistons have just two segments and they slide on steel cylinder liners.

The Final Edition’s Ducati Corse-developed monocoque chassis utilizes the same Öhlins suspension and rake/trail figures as the regular Panigale R, but its all-titanium Akrapovič exhaust is just like the one on the WSBK Panigale R.

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The electronics package is the same as the standard Panigale R, including a Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), cornering ABS, Ducati Wheelie Control EVO (DWC EVO), Ducati Traction Control EVO (DTC EVO) and Engine Brake Control (EBC).

Rounding out the individually-numbered Final Edition is a special Tri-Colore livery.

Given its name (the “Final Edition”) and a few hints from Ducati’s press release, we’re guessing this could be the last twin-cylinder superbike we’ll see out of Ducati. The future might very well incorporate MotoGP-derived V4s…but as Ducati says, that’s the future. Today it wants 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.”

For more information, see your local Ducati dealer or visit ducatiusa.com.

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