Well I emailed Benelli asking about expected future availability and pricing. Looks like they were selling the Limited Edition [for FIM rules] at 36,000Euros [about $31k].
But I don't think they plan on making it available in the US...
This is however, the coolest looking, and sweetest sounding bike I've ever heard. Saw it/heard it at the races and fell in love instantly.
Following is a copy of the email I got from Belelli:
Benelli is engaged by an official Tornado 900/3 Racing on the 2001 World
Superbike Championship.
Benelli started racing in San Marino GP, on Misano circuit, the last June
24th.
In the last Laguna Seca (USA) GP, Peter Goddard gained his 1st point,
arriving 15th in Race2!
More, the Benellisport Team will be present in all 2001 GPs.
It's the results of a great human effort and a very large investment in
money, people and time, but we are proud to be finally present at the
maximum level of competition.
At the last INTERMOT (Munich Show), Benelli announced that 150 bikes (in
Limited Edition version) would be produced, to obtain the racing
homologation, and that some of these bikes will be sold.
The bike was homologated before the end of January, as requested by FIM
(International Motorcycle Federation).
The price of this bike (the Limited Edition) has been indicated in 36.000
Euros, taxes included.
The start of the selling is actually scheduled in the late Spring 2002.
Sometime after, it will be also possible to purchase the street version
(two seats, actually named "biposto").
The price of this version has not been yet fixed.
Please note that Benelli hasn't a selling organization outside Europe, at
the moment, except in some Countries.
You can control the Benelli selling network in our official web site
(
www.benelli.com), at the entry "Importatori" (the English version of the
site will be open in the next weeks).
It will be possible to purchase a Tornado all over the world, but the owner
will be able to use it "on the road" only in the Countries where it will be
homologated.
Best Regards
Benelli SpA