Ducati Superbikes - SBK on the road

From the 851 to the Panigale V4, Ducati has always offered exceptional machines for its involvement in Superbike and in the hearts of its fans. The story begins with the 851, the first Ducati to use a twin with 4 valves per cylinder, fuel injection and liquid cooling. This engine, powered by Massimo Bordi, put the Bologna factory at the heart of the WSBK world championship.

The machine evolved into the 888, before the shock of the century arrived in 1994 with the 916. A sublime machine, with unrivalled design and mechanics as sensational as they were unreliable. Ducati left its mark on the world of sports bikes.

The 999 in turn marks a major shift in the Superbike range. Its controversial styling conceals a major technical evolution of the twin. Ducati continued to dominate WSBK, but its mechanical limits were beginning to show.

It was in 2007 that things really got going, with a significant increase in displacement. Twin bikes were allowed to go up to 1200 cm3. Ducati, which has strongly influenced the Superbike world, unleashes a magnificent 1098, whose 1198 cm3 R version churns out a colossal 180 horsepower at a dry weight of 165 kilos.

In 2012, another revolution. The Panigale breaks several Ducati traditions: it's no longer called by a number, but by a name; the steel trellis frame is abandoned in favor of a monocoque structure. As for electronics, they have been installed in high doses, just like on a fighter jet.

The Panigale evolves in delirious pproportions, peaking at 1285 cm3 and 205 hp. The twin won't go any higher, this peak already representing a technical feat. For Ducat', it's time to break the last of the historical codes: the engine abandons the twin for a 4-cylinder.

But not just any cylinder. A V4 1100, overpowering for the road and off-limits for competition. The Panigale V4 honors the lineage of Bologna's finest sports bikes. Shortly afterwards came the Panigale V4 R, designed for racing; a hybrid between Superbike bike and MotoGP prototype, on sale over the counter and approved for road use. Accompanied by a titanium exhaust system, the 998 cm3 engine can produce up to 234 hp.