Image 2 of 26 from Ducati debuts 1098R superbike with historic 1-2 victory

The 1098R single-sided swing arm

February 26, 2008 Ducati debuted its 1098 R Superbike in Qatar at the first round of the World Superbike Championship on the weekend, heralding the arrival of its truly landmark roadgoing sibling with a 1-2 victory administered by Troy Bayliss and Max Biaggi. The new 1098-based Ducati superbikes are, due to technical regulations, very similar to the US$47,000, roadgoing, 180 bhp,165kg,1098R which is the first bike available with traction control plus it comes with a rash of gear straight from the MotoGP Desmosedici GP8. Regardless of price, the bike is as close to a genuine winning world superbike as you’re ever likely to get.