Ducati WorldSBK technical director Marco Zambenedetti says the Bologna manufacturing facility had “reached the bounds” of the efficiency potential of earlier WorldSBK bikes earlier than introducing the brand new bikes this 12 months.
The earlier model of the Panigale V4 R received two world titles within the fingers of Alvaro Bautista in 2022 and 2023, and completed runner-up within the following two years with Nicolo Brega on board. The Italian solely received over BMW’s Toprak Razgatrioglu. That efficiency earned him a transfer to MotoGP.
This 12 months’s Panigale V4 R is the primary main replace to the bike for the reason that first mannequin was launched in 2019, and options quite a few updates, most notably a brand new double-sided swingarm and new fairing.
“It is easy to say what’s not new,” Marco Zambenetti advised WorldSBK.com.
“It is a new era bike for us, so we utterly overhauled the undertaking with improved aero packaging, ergonomics and a brand new chassis format.
“Expertise is at all times the important thing to enchancment and in addition offers you route.”
Zambenedetti added that the brand new bike has much less unsprung weight in comparison with the previous bike. That is because of the double-sided swingarm, which permits it to be lighter than the single-sided items on older bikes with out sacrificing stability.
“The weakest level on the previous bike was the rear, the suspension and format,” Zambenedetti mentioned.
“Because of this, we have now used our earlier expertise and utterly modified the chassis format, particularly on the rear of the bike, which is clear within the new double-sided swingarm.”
Moreover, “We saved some unsprung weight, which is essential in getting probably the most efficiency out of the tire.
“We keep on with our philosophy of maximizing our racing expertise and attempt to incorporate as a lot as we will into our road bikes, as a result of in our opinion we had reached the bounds of single-sided swingarm options and wanted to take a step ahead.”
Brega: “The one downside proper now could be…”
It is clear that it is a good bike for Nicolo Brega, as he received all three races within the first race of the 2026 season in Australia, even within the pouring rain in Race 2.
The Italians really feel the bike is extra steady than the earlier era because of some adjustments, particularly to the swingarm.
“First impressions of the brand new Panigale are good,” Brega mentioned.
“It is a utterly new bike and I’ve nice religion in what Ducati has achieved this winter.
“While you have a look at it, you’re feeling your physique place is slightly totally different. Then once you push, you possibly can really feel the swingarm and it is rather less tense than final 12 months.”
Brega added that the swingarm offers him higher really feel at each ends of the straight when accelerating and braking.
“The bike is stiffer when accelerating, strikes much less and stops slightly higher. You may brake tougher,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, there may be one downside with the brand new bike that Brega wish to overcome.
“The one downside now could be to make the adjustments of route slightly bit higher, however I believe it is simply that we did not get loads of mileage[in the test],” the Italian mentioned.
