Ducati 996 SPS Pista – The pinnacle of a meaningful Ducati lineage

Ducati 996 SPS

With Ian Fallon

With the long line of factory Ducati V-twin racing Superbikes now over, it’s worth recalling the incredible success of some earlier engine designs, especially the Desmoquattro. From 1990 to 2000, 851, 888, 916 and 996 Desmoquattro won eight World Superbike Championships.

Their riders, led by Doug Polen, Carl Fogarty and Troy Corser, have won 163 World Superbike races, delivering a staggering 52% win rate. Never before has any other Ducati racing engine succeeded or prevailed.

Desmoquattro evolved from two air-cooled valves 750 F1 in 1986 and marked a major step forward in Ducati’s technology. Introducing four-valve, liquid-cooled Desmodromic cylinder heads and a fully mapped electronic fuel injection and ignition system, it preceded Ducati’s previous generations. And Ducati immediately saw a racing future for new engines, primarily in the new World Superbike Championship that began in 1988.

As a low-volume producer, Ducati was only required to produce homologated models in small quantities, releasing limited edition 851 Sport Production homologation racers from 1989. They followed this up with the 888 SP and SPS. in 1992 and 916 SP in 1994. In 1997 they produced the 916 SPS to match the new 996cc crankcase.

Although the new cranks more closely resemble the wider cylindrical rivet model, Ducati failed to win the 1997 World Superbike builders and racer championship. This was the first time they failed to win. been the constructor’s championship since 1990.

But the year 996 revised; Carl Fogarty won both the 1998 and 1999 World Superbike Championships on the 996 factory. Steve Martin also won the 1999 Australian Superbike Championship on the 996RS and the 1999 Troy Bayliss British Superbike Championship on a similar machine.

By 2000, the Testastretta was about to replace the Desmoquattro but as Ducati was still racing the Desmoquattro in the World Superbike, a series of similar specials were produced between 1998 and 2000.

While the 916 SPS evolved into the 996 SPS, for the specific resemblance of some parts, Ducati supplied very small quantities of what they called the 916 SPS Fogarty Replica in 1998 and the 996 SPS Factory Replica in the year 1998. 1999. Things became very confusing as the factory never officially published promotional materials for these limited edition analog models and they were never widely available.

The difference of the 996 SPS with the standard 996 Strada is the engine and ignition system. SPS has retained the previous Weber Marelli EFI with a P8 processor and two injectors per cylinder. With a compression ratio of 11.5:1, 98 mm pistons, wider riveted cylinder heads with larger valves (36 mm intake manifold and 30 mm exhaust manifold) and titanium connecting rods, the engine produces more power. 123 hp at 9,500 rpm.

The 996 SPS has been significantly updated for Model Year 2000. While the 996 cc Desmoquattro engine remains unchanged, the new suspension makes it the best example of the genre. The 43 mm Öhlins front fork now has yellow TiN fork feet and includes a number of enhancements from the World Superbike racing program.

The 85mm steering lugs are from the Ducati Corse 996, and along with the new, stiffer triple clamps, the shaft mounting height has been reduced from 110 to 80mm. This allows for increased scalability of the columns to provide more precise front-end control. The rear subframe is now made of aluminum tube, using the same cross-section as the Ducati Corse 996 and saving 0.5 kg.

This year’s frame and wheels are “gunmetal gray” and the total weight is 3kg less than before, at 187kg dry. The result of these developments has maintained the 996 SPS’ position as the world’s leading sports bike. It may not be the fastest superbike, but the suspension improvements lift the 996 SPS far beyond even the next-generation Japanese and Italian machines. It is pure proof of the improvement of race dogs.

On request for other models of the 996 SPS Factory Replica, another series was produced for the year 2000. Originally, this model was called the 996 SPS 3, but it was officially called the 996 Factory Replica 2, and mainly to resemble the new parts for the Superbike 996 Factory 2000 World racer. When released, it was designated “Pista”; Pista is Italian for circuit or track.

Aesthetically, the SPS Pista is similar to the 1999 996SPS/FR (Factory Replica). A set of Ducati Infostrada Superbike team decals was offered along with a unique tri-color stripe on the headlight bibs and saddle. Each example also comes with a limited edition numbered plaque affixed to the triple clamp.

Today, the 996 SPS Pista represents the culmination of one of Ducati’s most important product lines. Combining the highest-spec production version of the Desmoquattro with the timeless styling of the 916 makes for an exceptional motorcycle. While the next Testastretta was more powerful and refined, the Desmoquattro in SPS guise retained the brutality and rawness that characterized earlier Ducatis.

Since the total production run of the 996 SPS Pista is only 149 pieces, it is one of the rarer produced Ducatis in the modern era. Australia only received 15 units and it arrived at the end of October 2000. That was after the new 996R Testastretta was launched in 2001. But because it was so rare, the 996 SPS Pista somehow caught the eye of the crowd. collectible modern Ducatis.

Specifications Ducati 996 SPS Pista