In motorsports, function is critical, and form comes second. Unless you’re Ducati, which has mastered the ability to combine race-winning performance with unique style and sophistication.
Famous for building the fastest race bikes on the planet, Ducati is equally well established as a manufacturer of the most artfully crafted, alluring motorcycles. For the Italian manufacturer, performance and beauty go hand in hand, in an intoxicating blend of raw power and refined luxury. The epitome of this work is the new Panigale V4 sportsbike – the latest in a long line of championship-winning, best-selling and utterly seductive motorcycles.
Ducati has always been a brand deeply embedded in motorcycle racing, with staggering success in various classes throughout the years. Historic wins, such as those of Mike Hailwood at the Isle of Man TT and Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty’s four World Superbike championships, are just a small part of Ducati’s rich heritage. Today, racing is still at the core of the brand, and the results speak for themselves – Ducati absolutely dominates MotoGP, the world’s premium motorcycle racing competition, where the top four racers on the leaderboard are all Ducati riders.
Transforming racing success to blisteringly fast road bikes has also been something that Ducati consistently excels in. As a modern motorcycle manufacturer, the company offers a model range covering everything from scramblers to adventure bikes, but the factory’s favourite child has always been the fastest bike rolling off the production line.
The top four racers on the leaderboard in MotoGP are all Ducati riders.
Over the years, various Ducati sportsbikes have captured the imagination of generations, such as the iconic 916. It may be 30 years old, but the 916 is still considered one of the finest creations in its segment. It’s loved by collectors, and it’s still doing what it was built to do: winning races, most recently at this year’s Classic Superbike Manx GP.
Since 2011, the fastest bikes from the Bologna brand have proudly worn the badge of Panigale. The first one in the family, the original Ducati 1199 Panigale was the most powerful production motorcycle of its day, and set the scene for what would grow to be an unparalleled legacy in sportsbike history. Its V-twin engine employed Ducati’s trademark desmodromic valve technology, allowing the lightweight 165kg bike to rev high and hard to punch out 195hp, the highest power-to-weight ratio of the day. It was the ultimate sportsbike, an embodiment of engineering brilliance and true Italian style, with a sprinkling of race exotica. It was a strong start.
The current V4 represents the seventh generation of the model: a synthesis of style, sophistication and performance
Over the years, the Panigale has been constantly improved. With the racing DNA injected into the road bikes, even more powerful and sporty S and R versions were added to the range, and different engine capacities broadened the appeal to a larger audience. The technology, engineering, aesthetics and race-derived features were all taken to new heights, and the Panigale family grew steadily faster, stronger, and more beautiful.
In 2018, Ducati sent shockwaves across the motorcycling world by unveiling the Panigale V4. A smaller V2 version remained in the lineup, but all eyes were on the new V4. It was an instant success; with its MotoGP inspired technology and design it became the worldwide bestselling motorcycle in the superbike segment. Was this the ultimate in the luxury sport bike segment?
Apparently not. Ducati felt that it could go further. First, in 2023, it once again raised the bar by not only claiming the title in the MotoGP, World Superbike and World Supersport Championships, but also concluding the fiscal year with a revenue of over one billion Euros.
The Panigale V4 represents a magical blend of cutting-edge innovation, classic styling, and endless pursuit of perfection
Then, earlier this year, Ducati wrote another chapter in its epic superbike saga when the new Panigale V4 was revealed to the public. The current V4 represents the seventh generation of the model: a synthesis of style, sophistication and performance. It is the closest you can get to the MotoGP, inheriting technical solutions developed by the multi-world title winning team, and offering you the same riding sensations as professional riders.
Numbers alone are meaningless when you talk about a motorcycle as emotionally loaded as the Panigale V4, but it’s impossible not to mention the 216hp peak power or the 187kg weight, which together result in a breathtaking power-to-weight ratio of 1.15. The new Panigale V4 is every bit as fierce as it is beautiful.
The Panigale V4 represents a magical blend of cutting-edge innovation, classic styling, and endless pursuit of perfection. It is a wonder, engineered. And it’s the most luxurious sports bike. Until Ducati’s next move…
For more information, see Ducati
