The earlier 851 had introduced liquid cooling, computerized fuel injection and four-valve heads to the company's two cylinder motors.

Ducati's desmodromic system reduces the frictional penalty from conventional valve springs.

Riding the Ducati 888, Doug Polen won first place in the 1991 and 1992 World Superbike Championships.

[4] Continuing refinement yielded the next two generations of the Ducati Desmoquattro superbike, resulting in the 916/996 and 999 lines.

[1] Ducati said the 1992 racing version of the 888, the SBK had a dry weight of 142 kg (313 lb) and 134 hp (100 kW) at 12,000 rpm, and was capable of a top speed of more than 290 km/h (180 mph).