2016 Ducati Panigale R
Race-bred, start to finish
Born to race, the new Panigale R brings a thrill to the track. 205 hp react instantly to a twist of the throttle thanks to ultralight engine components. Track-optimised geometry and racing suspension ensure responsive racetrack behaviour. Electronics are tuned to deliver maximum performance. A lithium-ion battery and a titanium Ducati Performance by Akrapovic exhaust will take you and 162 kg of racing technology straight to the chequered flag.
Singular goal
The Panigale R has one goal – simply to dominate the track. Every feature is oriented in that direction; no compromises are made. For dedicated enthusiasts who seek the purest experience on track, the Panigale R delivers a shot of racing adrenaline directly to the heart.
Precious elements
The clutch cover, cylinder head covers, and oil pan are all cast in a golden-color magnesium alloy to ensure the engine’s strength with the absolute lowest possible weight.
Crankcase
The crankcases, produced through a vacuum casting technology called Vacural®, ensure high strength at low weight along with a uniform wall thickness, and are designed to incorporate water jackets around the cylinder barrels. The engine uses wet barrels coated in Nicasil, which are inserted into the holes of the engine block’s housing during the initial stages of assembly. This design allows the head to be fastened directly onto the crankcase, combining the need for rigidity of the engine’s structure with a significant advantage in terms of compactness. Due to their thin structure, the cylinder barrels efficiently transfer heat to the coolant running along their walls. In addition to these barrels, the Superquadro’s crankcase stands out for the use of plain main bearings, previously utilised on the Ducati Desmosedici RR engine. These bearings allow the use of large-diameter crankshaft journals, which maximise rigidity and mechanical strength to optimise the internal rotating structure to the extreme power of the Superquadro.
Fully Ride-by-Wire
The opening and closing of throttle butterflies on the Superquadro is controlled by a fully electronic Ride-by-Wire system. The absence of a mechanical connection between the twistgrip and the throttle bodies allows the engine ECU to regulate power delivery by directly adjusting the throttle; Ride-by-Wire makes it possible to have different power and delivery based on the selected Riding Mode, to alter the level of engine back-torque (EBC), and to control any slipping of the rear wheel (DTC).
Lubrication
The journals of the main bearings are lubricated by pressurised oil admitted through ducts inside the engine block. This serves to assure the efficient lubrication of the new crankshaft, followed by a rapid recovery of the oil thanks to a lobe pump that places the connecting rod compartment under vacuum, similar to the engines used in MotoGP. This pump is driven by gears built in a special high-strength techno-polymer and maintains the crankcase area below the pistons in controlled conditions of constant vacuum, thereby reducing resistance during the pistons’ downstroke as well as facilitating oil flow for rapid recovery.
Essential Desmo
To control the large valves with the precise and efficient Desmodromic system, engineers chose a mixed gear and chain drive system. This chain drive accurately transmits the motion between crankshaft and camshaft, and thanks also to an automatic tensioning adjustment, offers excellent reliability with low routine maintenance costs.
