While hanging around the pitlane in Misano Adriatico during the recent World Ducati Week, out mates from twin-site Motoblog.
it got the chance to take a sneaky look at the Ducati 1199 Panigale SBK prototype which is currently undergoing heavy testing in view of its debut on the World Superbike Championship next year.
The development of this bike is being carried out on two different tracks: on one we have the two 1199 Panigale fielded by the Barni Racing Team Italia in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup with riders Lorenzo Savadori and Eddi La Marra (currently 2nd and 3rd in the standing), on the other there are the prototypes that the Ducati engineers are bringing here and there to collect as many data as possible without the pressure and hassle of the race.
At the recent WDW 2012 this team of engineers got the chance to submit their work to a couple of very special guest testers: reigning World Superbike Champion Carlos Checa and 3-times World Champion Troy Bayliss, who later announced his retirement from this activity after having tested the bike on several occasions.
View the full Ducati 1199 Panigale SBK prototype photo gallery