DUCATI AT THE 2009 MILAN BIKE SHOW

+ Click to Enlarge WORLD DEBUT: The Ducati 1200 Multistrada is being seen in public for the first time at the 2009 Milan show.

November 10, 2009

The undoubted star of the show on the Ducati stand at the 2009 Milan bike show is the Multistrada 1200, a whole new take on Bologna's quirky all-rounder, with more features, more electronics and much, much more performance.

Ducati general director Claudio Domenicali took the wraps off and introduced it: "The new Multistrada 1200 provides Ducati with an opportunity to penetrate what is, for us, a completely new market segment with an innovative concept in terms of performance, usability and technological content.

"It's four bikes in one, with four riding modes, traction control and electronic suspension derived directly from Ducati's racing experience.

"It's a bike with no limits, that can transform itself to suit the rider's needs form a sports bike to a tourer for long journeys with a passenger and luggage, to an everyday bike which can breeze through the daily commute and also tackle off-road routes with the agility of an enduro.

"At its heart is the World championship-winning Testastretta engine, as used on the 1198 World Superbike, retuned for smooth power delivery over a wide rev range. The new Testastretta 11° engine is a milestone in combining performance with usability."

Also on the stand are two new Hypermotard models, starting with the smaller, more agile 796. It's joined by a revamped 1100 - the 1110 Evo - that's 7kg lighter and 3.7kW more powerful than the original. It will be follow early in 2010 by an even more extreme performance version, 1100 Evo SP, designed to perform as well on the track as it does on the street.

The 1198 S Corse Special Edition and 1198 R Corse Special Edition have "factory racing" aluminium fuel tanks, traction control and special commemorative colours.

The Monster 696, 1100 and 1100S are now the first in the Monster family with anti-lock brakes; they also have re-shaped, longer exhaust guards for improved heat protection. The 696 also has new crankcases, 1.2kg lighter than previously and adjustable brake and clutch levers.

Ducati president Gabriele Del Torchio said 2009 had been a year of challenges and opportunities.

"The market has entered a significant worldwide slump," he said, "and we estimate the segment in which we operate will have dropped 35 percent by the end of this year.

"But we have grown our global market share to a record 7.2 percent by sticking to the basics: the right new models at the right time, a continuously growing dealer network and, most importantly, positioning the brand as an ambassador of Italian style throughout in the 80 countries in which we are now represented."