Desmosedigi, Part Due

DESMOSEDIGI, PART DUE

ucati has released the first photo graph of its new Desmosedici (16valve desmo) MotoGP racer, and it's a beaut! Shot from the right rear of the obviously slim machine, the photo plays up the massive Termignoni exhaust with dual-outlet underseat muffler, which Ducati claims was chosen for its aerody namic efficiency rather than any resem blance to a 996.

Aerodynamics are "vitally important" for the new 990cc four-stroke formula,

says Claudia Domenicali, Ducati Corse Managing Director, "because regulations based on fuel consumption reward the most efficient designs." To that end, the bike has spent the past few months un dergoing wind-tunnel testing.

i~ciesign an engine and chassis at the same time, the Ducati Corse engineers opted to employ the V-Four as a stressed member, with a vestigial Verlicchi steel-trellis frame joining the engine to the steering head. Presum

ably, the swingarm pivots in the engine cases in tradi `~ tional Ducati fashion. The hike was sched uled to be presented to the press during the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, May 30, with the public having its first chance to see it "in the flesh" during World Ducati Week at the Autodromo Santa monica in Misano, Italy, June 14-16. If all goes according to plan, the Desmosedici will contest the entire 2003 MotoGP series, most likely with current World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss in the saddle. -Brian Catterson