Being 21 is a big deal in the United States and it is an even bigger deal in Italy. Ducati has just announced that they are honoring the career of racer Troy Bayliss (who competed as #21) with the release of a special edition they have entitled the Panigale V2 Bayliss 1st Championship 20th Anniversary. The special edition celebrates the success Bayliss had while riding a Ducati, specifically the World Superbike Championship he won on a 996 R in 2001. Adorned in livery inspired by the bike Bayliss rode to victory that year, this special edition pays homage to one of the greatest racers in history.

Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel

Ducati Releases A Bike For Bayliss

It has been 20 years since the Australian Troy Bayliss won his first World Superbike Championship with Ducati, but the celebrated racer remains a legendary part of Ducati's legacy. Bayliss had 52 wins and 94 podium finishes while earning World Superbike titles in 2001, 2006, and 2008. During that time he won on a 996 R, a 999 R, and a 1098 R respectively. Bayliss is also the only motorcycle racer in history to win a World Superbike and MotoGP race in the same season (2006). Among the Ducati faithful, Bayliss is an absolute god, so building a bike in his honor seems only fitting.

RELATED: Rare 7-Mile 2002 Ducati MH900e For Sale Includes Factory Shipping Crate

The bike in question started life as a Panigale V2, the 955 cc twin-cylinder superbike that puts out 155 hp and 76.7 lb-ft of torque. The use of a twin for a Bayliss bike was likely a mandate at Ducati given that he won each of his titles with that engine configuration, which was a staple in the Ducati stable until the release of the V4 Panigale in 2018. Ducati shaved 6.6 lbs from the bike by utilizing a lighter lithium-ion battery and a single saddle with no passenger pad or footrests. The bike is also outfitted with the red, white, and green paint scheme that Bayliss made famous on his 2001 #21 996 R as well as a complete Öhlins suspension system.

A Limited Edition To Honor A Legend

A racer on a Ducati Panigale V2 Bayliss 1st Championship 20th Anniversary.
Via: Ducati

Ducati will be releasing this special edition as a numbered series, with Bayliss' signature on the tank and the production number on the triple clamp. It will also come with all the Ducati bells and whistles including Ducati Quick Shift, Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Wheelie Control, and Engine Brake Control, plus three riding modes (Race, Sport, and Street) that can be selected using the 4.3-inch color TFT display. Dealers will start offering the bikes in the United States starting in October 2021, and they will be available at a sticker price of $21,000.