Remodelled For 2009
For 2009, Ducati took the past success of the 1098 and modified it to honour a racing legend and to improve the performance of the Superbike.
Key changes include an upgrade into a 180 hp 90° V-twin "Testastretta Evoluzione" engine, and the inclusion of the Ducati Traction Control for better handling. The more common version of the bike is called "1098-09 R", which comes with the traditional Ducati red fairing, black chassis, and white sub-frame. The wheel rims are gold colored.
The main reason for Ducati to re-model this bike was to celebrate Troy Bayliss' victory in the 2008 Superbike World Championship season riding for Ducati, after which he retired. Ducati built the remodelled 1098 to salute the career of Bayliss and his three World Championships. It also allowed for Ducati to sell a few models of the 1098 in a colour scheme very similar to the one that Bayliss' bike used during his successful races in the 2008 Grand Prix, as well as his number "21" on the side. This model is suitably named "Ducati 1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition". According to Ducati, only 500 units of this new bike were manufactured. Other additions to the 1098 R Bayliss LE include carbon fibre heat shield on the exhaust and 5-spoke wheels (similar to Bayliss' original).It then went on to win a second world title with Carlos Checca in 2011.
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