Adelaide Motorcycle Centre to race 959 Panigale
Adelaide Motorcycle Centre, the Official Ducati Dealer in South Australia, have decided to build a Ducati 959 Panigale race bike to compete in the SA Club and Interclub 2016 season, South Australian State Championship and also the Mallala round of the Swann Australasian FX Superbike Championship.
Mike Hampton – Adelaide Motorcycle Centre Dealer Principal
“The Ducati 959 Panigale will be entered in the Open Class against the four cylinder 1,000cc bikes. This will be a stern task as we are not only giving away cc’s but also power against many of these bikes. However we believe that the drive of the L-Twin engine and the handling of the Ducati will narrow the gap and provide us with a competitive bike on the tight tracks at Mallala and Mac Park.”
Adelaide Motorcycle Centre Senior Technician Howard Sabey will be at the controls of the 959 Panigale and will be fully supported by the Service Team at the dealership.
Sabey has a long history of racing both dirt and track bikes starting with top positions in SA dirt-bike titles in the junior classes. He has raced many different brands and capacities of bikes including Yamaha TZ350’s around the SA tracks and across the country including Bathurst. As far back as 1993, Howard came 2nd in the SA Superbike State Championship and was the leading SA points scorer on a GXR750 Superbike winning the Karl Hamersley Trophy. In 2000 he won the South Australian Superbike title on a Yamaha YZF-R1. He has also competed in the Malaysian Superbike Championship on a number of occasions and has worked as technician for Glen Richards and Peter Hickman in the BSB (British Superbike Series) in the UK.
The 959 Panigale is an update on the 899 Panigale. The 955 cc 90-degree L-twin Superquadro engine now makes 157 horsepower and 79 foot-pound of torque, a six and eight per cent jump over the 899. The extra displacement comes from an increase in stroke, which, while it adds top end power, also contributes, to beefing the low and middle range. The addition of “showerhead” style fuel injectors also contributes to the increased power & torque. It now also comes with a slipper clutch, high-flow filter, and the exhaust system from the 1299 which increases to 60 mm in diameter.
Adelaide Motorcycle Centre Dealer Principal Mike Hampton
“I would invite all Ducati Owners and all our customers to get behind us and show us your support at the track. Come on out to Mallala Motor Sport Park outside Adelaide and the Mac Park Circuit at Mt Gambier and see how we perform.
“The first targeted meeting is at Easter, March 26 & 27, the SA State Titles and Easter Cup at Mac Park.
“The First Mallala round will be April 15 & !6, the Cafe Racer Interclub meeting.”
