Ducati’s Panigale V4 has stormed to victory on its debut season in the newly created Italian Production Bike Championship (CIV SBK Production Class) — a category for near-stock production machines that share the grid with the Italian Superbike series.
The win came courtesy of Davide Stirpe, three-time Italian Supersport champion and Ducati’s official test rider, who secured the title after two dominant wins in the final round at Mugello. Stirpe’s Panigale V4 was built and managed by Michele Pirro’s Garage51 team, led by the ten-time Italian Superbike champion and Ducati MotoGP/SBK test rider himself.
V4 Power and MotoGP-Derived Tech
This victory underlines the technical strength of the latest Panigale V4, which takes much of its DNA directly from Ducati’s MotoGP machines — including the Desmosedici-derived 1,103cc V4 engine with desmodromic timing and counter-rotating crankshaft.
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Across the 2025 season, the Panigale V4 was the bike to beat, claiming:
- 8 class victories and 22 podium finishes
- Three overall podiums against full Superbikes
- A clean sweep of the top three spots in Race 2 at Misano and the Super Pole Race at Mugello
No fewer than 10 of the 20 riders in the championship chose Ducati machinery — a clear sign of the bike’s competitiveness.
Production Bike Rules, Factory Precision
The Production Bike category was launched in 2025 to mirror the EWC endurance class, limiting modifications to ensure close racing and showcase manufacturer engineering. Engines and gearboxes must remain standard, with only restricted changes allowed to suspension, brakes, and exhausts.
While most teams use custom electronics modules, Ducati didn’t need one. Instead, it ran a specific version of Ducati’s DAVC Race Pro software, developed with Ducati Corse and approved by the Italian Motorcycling Federation. The system optimises performance for racing configuration with Akrapovič exhausts, slick tyres, and wet setups, straight from the factory package.
Race-Ready Component
Stirpe’s Panigale V4 used genuine Ducati Performance parts, including:
- Full Akrapovič exhaust system (+228 hp, –6.7 kg)
- Ducati Data Logger (DDL)
- 338.5 mm Brembo T-Drive discs (Carbon Pro spec)
- Racing switchgear, carbon wings, and cooling ducts
- Larger race windshield and lightweight aluminium radiator guards
A Win for Borgo Panigale Engineering
Commenting on the success, Ducati said the result highlights its commitment to developing production bikes that perform on the world’s toughest tracks. With the Panigale V4’s stock-based victory proving the strength of Ducati’s engineering, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer once again blurs the line between road and race.
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