DUCATI-ARUBA SUPERBIKE TEAM

Ducati joined forces with the largest Italian web provider to field their SBK team for 2015. Under the lead of Chief Racing Engineer Gigi Dall’Igna, Ducati got the best out of the mandatory updating the Panigale 1199 R underwent to comply with the new technical regulations that the SBK sanctioning body defined to bring the racing bikes closer to the production ones they are derived from. The production model is the new Panigale 1199 R, the only Panigale still in 112mm x 60.8mm 1.2 liter displacement, until Claudio Domenicali will decide that time has come for the development of a 1299 derived 1199 in 116mm x 56.7mm bore/stroke measurements. As per the new SBK rulebook, the 2015 Panigale 1199 R based racer features stock suspensions, brakes and chassis, all upgraded in the production item. In addition, Ducati extended to their racing Superbike section the cooperation with exhaust specialists Akrapovich and their new exhaust system proved a substantial improvement over the previous unit, as Chief Superbike Racing Ernesto Marinelli confirmed:“The 2015 Panigale R Superbike is an evolved version of the one we raced in 2014. We have come into line with the new technical regulations and the biggest changes are the new electronics, the engine and the new exhaust system. The electronics package has been totally revised, also because a €8000 price-cap has been introduced by the regulations. Many components have been changed, in particular the sensors, including the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) platform, which is now in common with production bikes, as well as the new Magneti Marelli MLE, which costs less than a third of the one used last year. Despite the significant difference in price, we have however been able to maintain virtually the same management strategies and update them with new settings. The engine is not as highly tuned as before and is closer to the production engine of the new Panigale R, using the same pistons, but in any case we have succeeded in maintaining the same maximum power output as the 2014 bike.” And both team riders, Chaz Davies and Davide Giuliano, were very please after the two days pre-season tests AT Jerez de la Frontera. Davide Giuliano, a known specialist of the lost lap with no tomorrow, was clocked at a very impressive 1’39”33, the fastest time ever recorded by a superbike and the new unofficial record for the class. Chaz Davies was close behind, confirming that the Ducati Panigale 1199 R evolved very positively and is ready for the 2015 SBK season.