Ducati Panigale V4 R and Ducati Panigale V2 were the stars of another splendid race weekend at the Portuguese Round, which enriches an already extraordinary season. The results at Portim㯠allowed the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer to win the World Manufacturers’ Title one round early in both WorldSBK and WorldSSP, confirming the success of a family of motorcycles that has once again proved to be the benchmark for performance and technology in the two World Championships reserved for production-based bikes.
The race weekend gave Ducati enormous satisfaction with Nicollega’s first World Title in the WorldSSP category and a magnificent hat-trick of victories for Alvaro Bautista, which allowed the reigning World Champion to increase his lead in the standings to 60 points and to become the Ducati rider with the most victories in the Superbike World Championship. For Bautista, the 56 victories achieved all aboard the Panigale V4 R are a historic record and allow him to be the leader of a ranking that includes some authentic legends in the history of motorcycle racing such as the four-time World Champion “King” Carl Fogarty (55), the three-time world champion Troy Bayliss (52) and Chaz Davies (28).
Ducati Panigale V4 R and Ducati Panigale V2 have participated in the WorldSBK and WorldSSP championships since 2019 and 2022 respectively and over these years they have constantly improved thanks to the work carried out in synergy by Ducati and Ducati Corse technicians. The result achieved is the upshot of a specific company philosophy which promotes the continuous exchange of information and technologies to contribute to obtaining the greatest sporting results and at the same time sets the objective of working so that these models can offer the best riding experiences to enthusiasts.
In the 2023 season, the dominance of the Ducati Panigale V4 R and the Ducati Panigale V2 is there for all to see. In WorldSBK the Reds from Borgo Panigale have achieved at least one victory in all rounds of the World Championship, collecting 25 successes in total with 42 podiums in 33 races. In WorldSSP the dominance was very similar with the Ducati riders reaching the top step of the podium 15 times (of which 14 for World Champion Nicollega) and capable of finishing in the top-3 30 times in 22 races.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO Ducati:
“Portim㯠was a memorable weekend for Ducati. In two days we won the Manufacturers’ Title in Superbike and the Manufacturers’ and Riders’ Title in Supersport with Nicollega. These are important victories that reward the work done and certify the position of our bikes as the benchmark for production-derived motorcycle championships. From 1991 to the present day, 19 Manufacturer’s World Titles have been won in Superbike, truly an incredible performance when compared to the total of 13 titles won by all other manufacturers combined. 32 years have passed since that first title, but Ducati is still driven by the same passion and determination that has led to these fantastic results. I would like to thank the riders and teams who contributed to achieving this excellent goal, as well as all the girls and boys at Borgo Panigale. In Ducati and Ducati Corse, we are fortunate to be able to count on extraordinary technicians who, season after season, with their commitment, keep the name of ‘Made in Italy’ high in the main competitions for production-derived bikes. It is starting from here that the transfer of knowledge from the world of racing competition to that of product arises, which gives us the possibility of always offering our enthusiasts the best in terms of technology and emotions. Finally, congratulations to Nicollega for his first World Title in Supersport and to Alvaro Bautista, who now leads a ranking full of legends and which speaks well of how much talent has passed through Borgo Panigale in recent years.”
The Panigale V4 is the bike with which Ducati transferred MotoGP technology into its production super sports bikes. Its engine with counter-rotating shaft and desmodromic distribution, the electronic equipment and aerodynamics derive from the solutions that Ducati Corse has developed on racing prototypes. The Panigale V4 R, in particular, debuted in the 2023 Ducati World Premiere, and was the first to introduce refined solutions from the world of racing into series production, reaching 16,500 rpm and delivering 237 horsepower in track configuration.
The Panigale V2 is the heir to the great tradition of Ducati twin-cylinder machines. Its Superquadro engine, monocoque frame and single-sided aluminium swingarm are solutions introduced with the 1199 Panigale, winner of the prestigious Compasso d’Oro 2014 by virtue of its ‘technical elegance’: a truly magical combination of sophisticated technology and beauty unique in the world. Fast on the track thanks to its 155 horsepower and low dry weight of 176 kg, it is also enjoyable and safe on the road thanks to its electronic equipment. The Panigale V2 represents a perfect synthesis between 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 information on the models in the Panigale family is available on Ducati Media House or on Ducati.com.
Highlights
- At Portim㯠the Bologna-based motorcycle company won the Manufacturers’ World Title one round early in the two World Championships reserved for production-derived bikes
- Nicollega’s Riders’ Title in WorldSSP with the Panigale V2 and Alvaro Bautista’s hat-trick of successes with the Panigale V4 R in WorldSBK confirm Ducati super sports bikes as the absolute benchmark
- Reigning WorldSBK World Champion Alvaro Bautista becomes the Ducati rider with the most victories in the Superbike World Championship: all 56 of the Spanish rider’s triumphs have come aboard the Panigale V4 R
- Ducati Panigale family is constantly evolving thanks to the continuous exchange of information and technologies from Ducati Corse towards production motorcycles
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