For sale due to downsizing/changing collection: Unique Ducati 999R PRESS. The Limited Edition 999R offered here is also called 'unicorn' because it is not numbered on the handlebar plate but was the first delivered to have the word 'PRESS' stamped on the silver plate. In other words, even before the numbered plaques were made and the first 999Rs were available for sale. The bike I have is demonstrably from the first owner (purchase invoice present) and was initially not meant to end up in private hands. The story is that after a very famous DJ was told that the bike on display was not for sale, the then-owner of a Ducati racing team did manage to buy the bike on 20-05-2003. The Ducati comes with an extra (new) exhaust plus muffler including extra Eprom (the race kit), the originally included Ducati 999 'bespoke suit' cover, a universal red paddock stand, Ducati tool kit, service and maintenance booklet, duplicate keys and a map code as delivered in 2003. After two motorbike trips through Germany, this bike was put away after two or three years of service. Today, twenty years after its first kilometres, straight from the garage and still completely intact and on its original tyres, which are obviously no longer suitable for driving. The engine has been fully serviced by the chief technical officer of the racing team owner. The engine starts and runs like new. This is a collector's item with a gold lining. This 999R is the very first example of the first series (with a grey frame). Dutch documents in order and with (suspended) registration. The Ducati Forum has this to say about the 'PRESS' copies (date 30-12-2009) Link: https://www.ducati.ms/threads/number-plate-on-999r.16780/ "A good buddy I know, works for fast bike magazine in the UK and has for about 5 years. I asked him your question, and he then asked me how on earth you got one of those PRESS edition bikes. As it turns out, Ducati made a few PRESS edition 999R bikes for magazine and other Press related testing sources before the 999R was released to the public. He was not sure what Ducati Italy did with these bikes after the write ups and tests were over, nor how many were in fact produced. He did say that those PRESS bikes were not included in the total number of R bikes built for that year, as in supposed to have been destroyed and for testing purposes only. The words PRESS is where all the other R models are and were supposed to have there production number placed, and the magazine editors etc. were to used that plate as an example of whats to come. What year is your bike labeled on the frame, what year is it titled. How did you get this bike? Sounds like you have yourself a unicorn." Model info: The Ducati 999 is a superbike built between late July 2002 and 2006 by the Italian company of the same name. This motorcycle had the tough task of replacing the Ducati 998, which in turn succeeded the 996 and the 916, all motorbikes were designed to race in the Superbike World Championship where they achieved many successes in both individual races and the championship. The 999 was also designed for that, winning three World Riders' Championships and three Constructors' Championships between 2003 and 2007. The 999's fairing and body panels are radically different from earlier models while retaining a certain familiarity. Developed in collaboration with mechanical engineer Massimo Tamburini. The project was entrusted to Pierre Terblanche, who oversaw the aesthetics of almost all Ducati models built in the first 10 years of the 21st century. Unlike almost all its competitors, the 999 was conceived and designed with the intention of winning in the Superbike World Championship, which was the pinnacle for production motorcycle in racing. The 999R was developed on the track by Ducati factory riders and only later adapted for road use. The 999's first appearance in the Superbike World Championship was in 2003, brought to the track by the factory Ducati Fila team. Despite Borgo Panigale unveiling new bikes, Neil Hodgson and Rubén Xaus managed to dominate the championship. The English rider won 13 races (including nine in a row), winning the rider's title. There were also numerous successes for his teammate who finished second at the end of the season.