In August, motorcycle manufacturers usually start announcing their new models for the following year. This year is no exception, with 2023 already seeing some model announcements. During this time, motorcycle enthusiasts eagerly await the big new bike announcements leading up to EICMA in November.
While we wait for these announcements, one way to gather clues about upcoming models is by examining official documents, such as the Executive Orders issued by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB is responsible for setting vehicle emissions standards in California, and vehicles sold in the state must adhere to these standards. Generally, if a vehicle meets CARB’s standards, it can be sold throughout the rest of the US as well.
It is rare for a model to be exclusively released in the US, so information found in CARB documents can be relevant globally. This makes exploring these documents useful for anyone interested in uncovering details about new motorcycle models, regardless of their location.
Now, let’s turn our attention to the 2024 Ducati SuperSport. CARB documents are usually organized by engine and model family, making them a valuable source of information. For the 2023 models, Ducati listed two Supersport 950 models: the Supersport 950 and the SuperSport 950 S.
However, the CARB filing for the 2024 SuperSport family reveals two additional model designations that have not been seen before. In addition to the existing listings for “Ducati Supersport,” “Ducati SuperSport S,” “SuperSport 950,” and what appears to be a typo with “SuperSpotr 950 S,” there are intriguing listings for “Ducati SuperSport S T” and “Ducati SuperSport T.”
If we examine Ducati’s current lineup, we can see that they offer a wide variety of models targeting different types of riders. They have the Panigale family, DesertX, Diavel V4, XDiavel, Hypermotard family, Monster family, Streetfighter family, Multistrada family, and Scrambler family. However, there is currently no strong Touring or Sport Touring option. This suggests that Ducati may be looking to fill this gap in its lineup with the new models indicated in the CARB documents. The “T” in the model designations could stand for “Touring” or “Turismo.”
As of today, August 21, 2023, we have most of Ducati’s 2024 World Première calendar to look forward to, starting in September. Unlike the 2023 calendar, Ducati has chosen not to give teaser titles to each Episode, making it challenging to connect the CARB information with specific announcements this season. Nevertheless, we eagerly await the upcoming changes and what they will bring.