For the 2002 Superbike season Ducati needed to arm reigning World Superbike Champion, Troy Bayliss, with an improved weapon to compete with the new Honda VTR1000SP-W that Colin Edwards would run (Edwards ultimately won the championship at the final round in Imola in an epic battle with Bayliss).
The 998R was the first Ducati to feature the 104mm bore which would persist right through to the Xerox 999R of 2006. This meant a claimed 139bhp at the countershaft sprocket. As usual with Ducati exotica the bike featured Ohlins low friction TiN treated front fork and an Ohlins rear shock. Ultra light Marchesini Corse wheels plus carbon fibrer tail section, airbox, lower fairing plus front and rear fenders added to the 998R’s appeal, but subtracted weight. Like the Corse bikes, the 998R was equipped with four pad P4-34 brembo calipers.

The bike was never homologated for the road in the USA (although was road registrable elsewhere). This über 998 is for me the most desirable of the range, effectively combining a 999R powerplant with the beautiful 916 range styling.