Ducati 999
Overview
 
The Ducati 999 superseded the Massimo Tamburini
Massimo Tamburini
Massimo Tamburini is an Italian motorcycle designer for motorcycle companies including: Cagiva, Ducati, MV Agusta; and Bimota, which he founded, together with Bianchi and Morri ....

 designed Ducati 916
Ducati 916
The Ducati 916 is an Italian sports motorcycle manufactured by Ducati from 1994 to 1998. In contrast to Japanese inline four-cylinder competitors of the time, its V-twin engine produced less outright power, but a more even torque spread...

, Ducati 996
Ducati 996
The Ducati 996 is an Italian street motorcycle manufactured by Ducati from 1999 to 2002. It was based upon the earlier 916.-Model history:...

 and Ducati 998
Ducati 998
The Ducati 998, a successor to the Ducati 996 and the final variation on the Ducati 916, was produced in various models from 2002 to 2004. The new Testastretta engine shared many similarities with the previous Desmoquattro engine in the 996, although it was completely new from the crankshaft up....

 range of superbikes in 2003, and was produced through 2006. This motorcycle enjoyed great success in World Superbike
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...

, and was raced in the series through the 2007 season, despite no longer being produced, pending rules changes by the series' governing body, FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....

, to allow competition of the new Ducati 1098
Ducati 1098
The Ducati 1098 is a sport bike manufactured by the Italian motorcycle company Ducati since 2007. There were three different versions, called the 1098, 1098S, and 1098R...

.

The 999 was designed by Pierre Terblanche
Pierre Terblanche
Pierre Terblanche is a South African motorcycle designer born in 1956 in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape. He started his career in advertising but felt the need to move into the design world. After moving to Germany and working with Volkswagen design he worked at Cagiva's Research Center at San Marino...

, amid much controversy over its styling.
 
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