July 7, 2006 UPDATED IMAGE LIBRARY Shown for the first time at the recent Italian round of the World Superbike Championships was a motorcycle with an interesting heritage and incredibly impressive specifications – the US$44,995 195 kilogram (dripping wet and fully fueled) Super Squalo supercharged 998cc v-twin. The bike is loosely based on a Ducati 999, and uses the same Testastretta motor with modified internals, plus a Sprintex series 4-150 supercharger to deliver 200bhp matched by a strong and ultra-flat torque curve starting very low in the rev range. World renowned motorcycle designer John Keogh worked with Vee Two’s Brook Henry and Sprintex to design this unique machine of which only 99 will be manufactured, each an individually numbered, limited edition, hand-built machine with a dazzling array of the latest top shelf gear including a close ratio six speed gearbox, powershifter, ceramic coated dual exhaust system, Ohlins suspension front and rear, Marchesini wheels, digital race dashboard and a rear-facing camera and in-dash video screen for rearwards view. The Super Squalo will feature at this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The frame of the Super Squalo is a Ducati 999 unit with adjustable rake and trail and wheelbase, but the swinging arm is a braced trellis-type single-sided unit designed to keep the 200 ponies in line.
Highly regarded international motorcycle designer John Keogh is responsible for the design, while the bike is built in Perth (Australia) by world-renowned constructors Vee Two using the (originally Scottish) Sprintex supercharger.
First formed in Scotland thirty years ago, Twin Helical Screw Supercharger Company Sprintex departed the UK in 1996 bound for Australia and will return home to Goodwood next week to showcase its latest Series 4 Supercharger aboard the SuperSqualo.
Sprintex, now a part of the Australian Automotive Components Group of companies, (AAC) is one of only a select number of companies globally that holds world wide patents for and produces the twin helical screw supercharger.
Vee Two now also as part of the AAC Group of companies along with Sprintex, combined forces to develop the Harley-Davidson V-Rod supercharger kit which is now being sold to great acclaim world wide.
Two Super Squalo’s will attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where spectators will be among the first in the world to see the Super Squalo fire it’s first shots in anger, as it navigates the track in the guiding hands of Mr Anthony Hamilton Managing Director of AAC group of companies and the bikes creator Mr Brook Henry General Manager of Vee Two Australia.
Gizmag is hoping to throw a leg over the beastie in the foreseeable future, so stay tuned. And AUD$2,000 will get you a place in the queue at the company web site – all international sales will be handled directly from the Perth headquarters.