Imagine the roar of 215 mph (346 km/h), the elegance of Italian design, and the thrill of a showdown at Motegi—all packed into a 148 kg (326 lbs) masterpiece. That’s the 2006 Ducati GP6, a motorcycle so legendary it deserves its own Hollywood biopic.
Born in MotoGP’s “Golden Era” of 990 cc bikes, this crimson rocket was more than just a pretty face; it was Loris Capirossi’s weapon of choice for pole positions, victories, and lap records.
This GP6 wasn’t just any bike—it was Ducati’s Michelangelo, crafted with Ferrari-inspired engineering and capable of 250 horsepower. Its pièce de résistance? The victory at Motegi, where Capirossi obliterated the competition, led every lap and left the Japanese manufacturers questioning their life choices.
Later, at Valencia, it played wingman in Ducati’s first-ever 1-2 finish alongside Troy Bayliss, setting a lap record that held its own against today’s F1-on-two-wheels MotoGP machines.
With its trellis frame still bearing the scars—and scrutineer’s sticker—from Valencia, this GP6 is a piece of racing history frozen in time. It’s also one of only six race-winning Ducati 990s, making it as rare as a unicorn at a Ducati factory tour.
Now up for grabs, this two-wheeled masterpiece is projected to fetch between US$400,000 and US$800,000 when it goes on the block on December 03, 2024 (Lot 101). It’s more than a motorcycle; it’s a ticket to MotoGP immortality.
Images: RM Sotheby’s.
