This is the bike that Ducati factory riders, and former champions Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden will take into battle in the upcoming 2012 MotoGP series, which begins in Qatar on April 8.

Following the specifications for the machine released by Ducati (including “more than 230 hp”), a video documents the mad scramble to create the latest prototype (one of many created in the last 8 months). Despite all of Ducati’s efforts, recent testing reveals that Honda and Yamaha factory riders still enjoy a comfortable cushion over their Ducati rivals. In other words, the mad development scramble must continue until the bike is competitive and running at the front, because Ducati does not doubt the skill of its pilots.

Technical Specifications

ENGINELiquid-cooled, 90 degree V4 four-stroke, desmodromic DOHC, four valves per cylinder

CAPACITY 1,000cc

MAXIMUM POWER More than 230hp

MAXIMUM SPEED In excess of 330 km/h (205 mph)

TRANSMISSION Ducati Seamless Transmission. Chain final drive

CARBURATION Indirect Magneti Marelli electronic injection, four throttle bodies with injectors above butterfly valves. Throttles operated by EVO TCF (Throttle Control & Feedback) system

FUEL Shell Racing V-Power

LUBRIFICANT Shell Advance Ultra 4

IGNITION Magneti Marelli

EXHAUST Termignoni

FINAL DRIVE D.I.D Chain

FRAME Aluminium

SUSPENSION Öhlins inverted 48mm fork and Öhlins shock absorber, adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping

TYRES Bridgestone 16.5″ front and rear

BRAKES Brembo, two 320mm carbon front discs with four-piston callipers. Single stainless steel rear disc with two-piston calliper

DRY WEIGHT 157 kg

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