These latest spy pictures show once and for all that the V4 Ducati sportsbike lives and breathes. Ever since the firm released their Desmosedici D16RR MotoGP replica back in 2007, motorcyclists have been waiting with bated breath. But that was a decade ago, and Ducati’s fortunes have changed almost as much as the market.

Even more pressing and the dramatic changes in superbike performance and technology – combined with ever-tightening emissions laws. Ducati need to make the next jump in performance for road and race bikes alike – and they can’t do that with the Panigale’s Superquadro. The result is the imminent arrival of their first full-production V4 superbike.


We fully expect the new range-topping sportsbike to be unveiled at the Milan show this November – effectively a home event for the factory. But while Ducati were hoping the world’s attention would be focused on their Final Edition 1299 Panigale – set to be revealed at the end of the week – it’s our first tantalising glimpse of an almost complete V4 that are grabbing the headlines.

The new engine must be sub-1000cc in this V4 configuration due to superbike engine regulations, but – just like the current Panigale – there is an expectation that this will lead to a split in the road range. There will be a 1000cc V4 homologation edition, with an R in its name, while there’s likely to be a further pair of road models (standard and S) which could boast a 1200cc V4.