Photoshoot of the Day: March 20th 2019 – Ducati Panigale V4S

After years of stunning V-twin sportsbikes, Ducati pulled off a masterstroke giving their top-of-the-range superbike a V4. It’s genius – the perfect way to move on a V-twin concept that had reached the end of its development path while still allowing the bike the soul it needs.
There is no doubting that this is a step forward from Bologna and they’ve made the most desirable sportsbike on the planet, with amazing, light handling, superb power delivery and the kind of top-end rush that skews your senses and tests your sheer ability to hold on. It’s the real deal.
With 211bhp, a new MotoGP-style frame and some of the most advanced electronics in the world, Ducati’s V4 Panigale replaced the 1299 Panigale in Ducati’s superbike line-up and forms the basis of their 2019 WSB challenger.
The bike is simply astounding. Ducati said at its launch that it was the fastest, most powerful production bike that the world had ever seen and after that first session we had no reason to doubt them.
The engine makes power in the kind of glorious, linear way that makes it easy to exploit, but once it gets revving it simply takes your breath away. It’s got loads of soul and goes through gears so fast it blows your mind. Despite being a V4 it still sounds and feels like a Ducati but it’s all we can do to hold on!
The chassis is impressive too. Just like their MotoGP bike, Ducati have given the V4 a reverse-rotating crank, which means that it rotates in the opposite way to the wheels to counteract their gyroscopic forces. It means the bike is nimble and easy to steer.
The electronics are some of the most advanced on the planet and on the conservative settings we’re running at the moment, allow you open the throttle with impunity, but without ever feeling like you’re being restricted. It’s a great bike for all levels of trackday riders, but pretty civilised on the road as well.