          
    Ducati 1098 wins MDA Design Award
20 feb 2007 by Mark Groeneveld And the envelope, please... 2006 is the the second consecutive year Ducati has recieved "Best Design" from the Motorcycle Design Association (MDA). The association co-founded in 2001 by Glynn Kerr and Francois-Marie Dumas is composed of approximately 120 motorcycle industry designers. This year the MDA lauded Ducati for the new 2007 1098. A replacement for the 999, which the Ducati press release states, "bravely broke away from being just a facelift, although while a better bike in most respects, some of the earlier magic was perhaps missing." The 1098 follows in the mold of the 916 however, combining what Ducati calls the "practical improvements of the 999 with the look and presence of the 916."
The members of the Motorcycle Design Association clearly agree. They have voted the Ducati 1098 not only the best in its class within the Supersport category, but also the overall best design of 2006, winning this year's Motorcycle Design Trophy. This is the second year Ducati achieved consecutively this prestigious award. Last year, the Association voted the Hypermotard as the best overall motorcycle design trophy winner for 2005. The 2006 Motorcycle Design Association award for the 1098 follows the heels of 2005's 'Best of Show' given to the Hypermotard during the EICMA Show in Milan in November 2005. The Design Trophy was awarded for the first time in September 2001; since then, every year, over 70 top professionals from the worldwide design sector are called upon to vote for the best motorcycle design. The jury, made up of designers as well as representatives of the press and the main motorcycle manufacturers, gather to chose the winners in five categories, and then nominate the Motorcycle Design Trophy for the best overall motorbike design. The 1098 Superbike was launched to the world at the EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan in November 2006 and, with the 1098 S Tricolore winning the "Most Beautiful Motorcycle in Show" award, was an immediate success. The look and stance of the 1098 were designed by the combination of race MotoGP and World Superbike track technology, track-derived components and Ducati heritage. The 1098's striking aerodynamic shape naturally embraces its riding position, configured by our racers and test riders for optimum speed and agility. The racing spirit takes form. Thanks to the forward thinking design and changeability of most components, the 1098 can quickly be transformed into a real race bike. Finally, it has been confirmed that the 1098 Superbike will be available in two additional colors: midnight black and yellow. The 1098 will get the striking yellow scheme, matched with black wheels and a grey frame. The vibrant midnight black color is available for the 1098 S, paired with a red frame and red-trimmed black wheels. Dark aluminum badging will adorn both color schemes. Both colours will be available starting in March 2007.
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