To celebrate 100 years of the iconic Italian manufacturer, Ducati has unveiled what might just be its maddest road bike yet: the Superleggera V4 Centenario.
Limited to just 500 individually numbered bikes, this isn’t just another exotic superbike… it’s a full-blown engineering flex that rewrites the rulebook. Let’s start with the headline grabber: this is the first road-legal bike in the world to run carbon-ceramic brake discs. Proper MotoGP-spec kit. Developed with Brembo, the setup slashes weight and inertia while delivering insane stopping power and consistency, even under brutal track use. And it doesn’t stop there.
The Centenario also debuts a set of carbon-fibre sleeved forks (another world first) alongside a chassis that’s basically a carbon fibre obsession. Frame, swingarm, wheels, bodywork… the lot. The end result is a claimed wet weight (without fuel) of just 173kg, dropping to a frankly ridiculous 167kg with the supplied race kit.
Enjoy everything More Bikes by reading the MoreBikes monthly newspaper. Click here to subscribe, or Read FREE Online.
Then there’s the engine. At its heart sits the Desmosedici Stradale R 1100, which is a hand-finished V4 masterpiece producing 228bhp in road trim. Fit the included race exhaust and that figure jumps to a staggering 247bhp. That gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 1.48hp/kg… territory that was once reserved for full factory race bikes.
Unsurprisingly, its electronics are just as wild. Derived from Ducati’s World Superbike and MotoGP efforts, the system includes advanced traction, wheelie and slide control, plus a new dynamic engine braking strategy designed to mimic pro-level riding techniques. Visually, it’s just as special. Finished in a new “Rosso Centenario” livery, the bike celebrates Ducati’s past while influencing its future, with the same design set to appear on its 2026 MotoGP and WorldSBK machines. If that wasn’t exclusive enough, Ducati is also building 100 Tricolore versions, blending modern tech with a nod to classic race bikes like the 750 F1. And because this is Ducati going full Ducati, 26 lucky owners will get access to a MotoGP Experience, including track time and a ride on the Desmosedici GP26.
Yes, really. The Superleggera V4 Centenario isn’t just a motorcycle. It’s a statement. A collector’s piece. A glimpse into what happens when one of the most passionate manufacturers on the planet decides to go all in. The question is, who’s going to dig deep enough into their pockets to fish out the required £135,000 price tag?
