I agree. The engineering, and the tooling for the engine and chassis have been paid for a long, long time ago for the Supersports. The biggest expenses they've incurred in recent years were the new body in '99, and the DS head (which really just copied what 2V tuners have been doing). If they can create continued interest in the same bike by doing some restyled specials (SportClassics), or making small improvements (like displacement increases) they will keep it alive.

However, the air-cooled bikes are noisy. With ever restrictive sound and emission regulations, you have to wonder how long before they are forced to go with liquid-cooling. Maybe the current Superbikes will become Supersports, and future Superbikes will be V-4s??? With the news that TPG is actively looking for a buyer for Ducati, who knows what a new owner will do.