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Ducati 1098/1198 - The Superbike Redefined

17th December 2010 Print
Ducati

For the Italian iconic motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, the 2007 launch of the 1098 superbike was a watershed event. The new bike stunned the motorcycling world by combining staggering performance with the classic styling and design features that made earlier models such as the 916, 996, and 998 enduring classics. At the track, the 1098 R would win the 2008 Superbike World Championship, while the street version set new sales records and won multiple awards from the media and industry associations. And the 1098’s successor, the 1198, has enjoyed a similar reception since its introduction in 2009.

Now a new book from David Bull Publishing tells the inside story of this remarkable machine’s development, design, and production—from the earliest ideas and sketches to the final product. In Ducati 1098/1198: The Superbike Redefined the author Marc Cook went behind the scenes at Ducati headquarters in Bologna for extensive interviews with the designers, engineers, fabricators, and other personnel who brought the 1098 to life. These include Ducati President and CEO, Gabriele Del Torchio, and Claudio Domenicali, the former head of Ducati Corse who is now Ducati’s general managing director.

Their revealing stories and insights are amply illustrated by hundreds of photographs that show everything from the off-limits prototype development areas to the 1098 assembly line. There are also scores of previously unpublished design renderings and CAD drawings, which often reveal styling directions and technologies that were explored but not adopted. And along with the 1098 and 1198, the book also offers a detailed account of the development of the smaller capacity Ducati 848 sportbike.

For motorcycle enthusiasts, the book offers the ultimate insider’s factory tour—one that is as much about the people of Ducati the bike itself. Ducati 1098/1198: The Superbike Redefined captures the heart and soul of this revolutionary motorcycle and the company that created it.

Ducati 1098/1198: The Superbike Redefined is available through Ducati dealers, bookstores, specialty motoring booksellers, and directly from the publisher at bullpublishing.com.

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Ducati