Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak, invincible

This Ducati is a true beast of mountain climbing races, achieving this weekend the double at the 2012 Pikes International Peak Hill Climb, setting a new record in this race

By David Gómez13 August 2012 · 2 min read

This weekend the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2012 was held in Colorado, the second oldest race in the United States (the first was Indianapolis), and for the first time it was run on a fully paved course, which marks the start of a new era for this historic race.

The motorcycle we show you today is the one that took Carlin Dunne and his teammate Greg Tracy to victory in this race and to a new record for the event, breaking the ten-minute barrier for the first time on this 19.98 km climb. Dunne posted 9:52.819, while his teammate from Spider Grips Ducati finished six seconds behind, rounding out the team’s double.

This Ducati is an evolution of last year’s Multistrada 1200 S, which makes that one look outdated. After removing all the parts that make the bike street-legal, the brakes were replaced with Brembo units with radial pumps from MotoGP, as well as the monobloc calipers from the Ducati Superbike 1198.

The Akrapovic exhaust is handmade, of which only 50 units were produced, six of them for this team. Its OZ Racing wheels are not only lightweight but also look like a work of art. The sub-frame and bodywork were also modified, all to suit it even better for the race it was going to compete in.

The last adjustment Ducati has let us know about is the one for its fuel injection system, which we’re told is self-adjusting based on altitude. Since it’s a mountain climbing race, the engine “breathes” differently depending on altitude, although we know the bike didn’t need many engine improvements beyond the ECU change. A true object of desire that not even Jenson Button could resist.

After the race, Dominique Cheraki, General Manager of Ducati North America, stated that choosing the Multistrada S to race at Pikes Peak was the right decision, given the versatile nature of this bike for riding over different terrain, as well as its ergonomics, handling and performance. Without a doubt, the double and the new record prove him right.

Source and photos | Ducati America