Ducati Panigale V4 Anniversario Auctioned For Carlin Dunne

The Ducati 916 is one of the most iconic motorcycles ever made, with a stunningly gorgeous design and impeccable performance credentials that earned more than 100 race wins in the World Superbike championship.

Read about designer Massimo Tamburini’s personal Ducati 916 prototype.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 916's debut, Ducati rolled out at the Laguna Seca WSBK round in July what it dubs the Panigale V4 25° Anniversario 916. It's a special version of the Panigale V4 S that incorporates several of the V4 R's components, including the R's redesigned front frame, its dry clutch, and all the latest-spec electronic rider aids, such as predictive Ducati Traction Control EVO 2 and Ducati Quick Shift EVO 2 for more aggressive gear shifts.

Related: Carlin Dunne Was A Ducati Salesman, Then He Won Pikes Peak

Other tasty bits on the Anniversario 916 are the Marchesini forged magnesium wheels, titanium Akrapovič exhaust, and a smattering of carbon and billet aluminum items. Topping it off is a paint scheme that mimics the look of the Ducati 996 racebike, the winner of the 1999 World Superbike Championship. Just 500 will be built, retailing at $42,500.

Ducati has announced that No. 5 of the 500-unit run will be auctioned off to benefit the Carlin Dunne Foundation. Dunne (who raced with the No. 5), for those who don't know, was a Pikes Peak International Hill Climb winner who tragically was killed on the mountain this year while chasing his fifth Pikes victory.

Dunne was not only fast on a motorcycle, he was a terrific ambassador for motorcycling. I was privileged to have worked with him for a couple of days in the production of this video, and he was highly intelligent and dashingly charming, as well as blisteringly quick aboard a motorcycle on both dirt and street. The motorcycling community mourns the passing of their revered cohort.

This auction’s pot has been sweetened by the addition of the race leathers worn by Ducati rider Chaz Davies at the Laguna Seca WSBK round, a design inspired by four-time world champ Carl Fogarty’s leathers from the era of the 916 Superbike. The auction will run until September 15.

Bid on the Carlin Dunne Anniversario 916 here.

All proceeds from this auction will go toward the newly established Carlin Dunne Foundation, an organization created upon Dunne’s passing to carry on his legacy by aiding in the development of preventative resources and rehabilitation programs supporting extreme sport athletes diagnosed with and/or at risk of acquiring Concussion Syndrome, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and traumatic brain injuries.

Additionally, and separate from the Panigale V4 auction, the Carlin Dunne Foundation is enrolled in the eBay for Charity program in which people and organizations can support the Carlin Dunne Foundation directly by selecting it as their charity of choice when listing an item. For more information on the Carlin Dunne Foundation, visit: carlindunne.org.

The announcement of the auction also coincides with the lead-in to a Carlin Dunne Memorial Weekend (Celebration of Life) to be held in Santa Barbara, California, to honor Dunne's life. Memorial events taking place include a film screening on Friday, September 6, of A Thousand Miles Behind at 7 p.m. at Marjorie Luke Theatre, a memorial paddle-out at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 7, followed by a reception and silent auction at 3 p.m., and finally a motorcycle ride at 9 a.m. on Sunday, September 8, beginning at Ducati of Santa Barbara.

For more information about the Carlin Dunne Memorial Weekend, please visit: carlindunne5.com/celebration.