2003 Ducati 999S Monoposto

To say that the arrival of the 999 struck the Ducati world like a thunderbolt would be a gross understatement, so different was the newcomer from what had gone before. Gone was the familiar pair of horizontal rectangular headlights that had characterised the iconic 916 and its successors, replaced by a pair of vertically stacked circular lights; the result could not have looked more different. Even the trademark single-sided swinging arm had gone, swapped for a conventional double-sided 'arm thanks to designer Pierre Terblanche's new vision of what Ducati's top-of-the-range superbike should look like. The model was introduced in 2002 as the 999 and 999S, both of which used the 998cc Testastretta engine of the superseded 998, the most significant difference between the two being the latter's Öhlins suspension. Today the quirky 999 has its own band of dedicated devotees, and there can be no denying that it represented a major step forward in performance terms over the outgoing 998.
This 999S was acquired by the private vendor in 2018. A keen Ducati enthusiast and collector, our vendor intended to restore the machine to concours condition after his retirement, only for ill heath to scupper the project.

The Ducati is offered from the owner's private collection, all of which were ridden for no more than 2 miles following acquisition and then stored within his house on static display. The current odometer reading is 11,253 miles (at the time of cataloguing/photography). Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require re-commissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's history, originality, authenticity, mechanical condition and completeness (or otherwise) prior to bidding.

Accompanying documents include old/current V5C Registration Certificates; a quantity of MoT certificates and service invoices; DVLA registration number correspondence; META alarm certificate; SORN paperwork; Ducati's 2004 safety recall letter (The oil cooler had been changed in 2004 as part of Ducati safety recall); and a full complement of original Ducati books, including the warranty and service booklet.
Offered with key