The Ducati Panigale V4 R and the Ducati Panigale V2 were the stars of another splendid weekend of racing at the Portuguese round, enriching an already extraordinary season. The results in Portimão enabled the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer to win the Constructors’ World Title with one round to go in both WorldSBK and WorldSSP, confirming the success of a family of bikes that once again proved to be the benchmark in terms of performance and technology in the two World Championships reserved for production-derived motorcycles.
The race weekend gave Ducati enormous satisfaction with Nicolò Bulega’s first World Title in the WorldSSP category and a magnificent hat-trick of wins for Álvaro Bautista, which allowed the reigning World Champion to increase his lead in the table to 60 points, becoming the Ducati rider with the most wins in the World Superbike Championship. For Bautista, the 56 victories achieved at the controls of the Panigale V4 R are a historic record that allows him to top a ranking that includes some true legends of motorcycle racing history, such as four-time World Champion “King” Carl Fogarty (55), three-time World Champion Troy Bayliss (52) and Chaz Davies (28).
The Ducati Panigale V4 R and Ducati Panigale V2 have been participating in the WorldSBK and WorldSSP Championships since 2019 and 2022 respectively, and over these years they have been constantly improved thanks to the work carried out in synergy by Ducati and Ducati Corse technicians. The result achieved is the consequence of a specific philosophy of the company, which promotes the continuous exchange of information and technologies in order to contribute to the best sporting results and, at the same time, sets the work objectives so that these models can offer enthusiasts the best driving experiences.
In the 2023 season, the dominance of the Panigale V4 R and Panigale V2 was there for all to see. In WorldSBK the Reds from Borgo Panigale achieved at least one victory in every round of the World Championship, achieving 25 successes in total, with 42 podiums in 33 races. In WorldSSP the dominance was very similar, with Ducati riders taking the top step of the podium 15 times (including 14 times with World Champion Nicolò Bulega) and being able to finish in the top three on 30 occasions in 22 races.
The Panigale V4 is the bike on which Ducati has transferred MotoGP technology to its supersport production bikes. Its engine with counter-rotating crankshaft and desmodromic distribution, electronic equipment and aerodynamics are derived from solutions that Ducati Corse developed for racing prototypes. The Panigale V4 R, in particular, was presented at Ducati World Première 2023, and was the first to introduce refined solutions from the world of competition to series production, reaching 16,500 rpm and delivering 237 hp in track configuration.
The Panigale V2 is the heir to Ducati’s great tradition of twin-cylinder machines. Its Superquadro engine, monocoque frame and aluminum swingarm are solutions introduced with the 1199 Panigale, winner of the prestigious Compasso d’Oro 2014 for its ‘technical elegance’: a truly magical combination of sophisticated technology and beauty that is unique in the world. Fast on the track thanks to its 155 hp and low dry weight of 176 kg, it is also pleasant and safe on the road thanks to its electronic equipment. The Panigale V2 represents the perfect synthesis of power and elegance.
The Ducati Panigale family is made up of the Panigale V2, Panigale V2 Bayliss 1st Championship 25th Anniversary, Panigale V4, Panigale V4 S, Panigale V4 SP2 and Panigale V4 R models. All the information about the Panigale family models is available at Ducati Media House or at Ducati.com and Ducati.pt.