Of all the bikes unveiled at EICMA, Ducati’s latest Panigale V4 SP was one of the those that really caught our eye.
The standard V4 is hardly short of firepower, but the SP takes things several steps further, adding the sort of exotic kit that makes it seriously difficult to resist… even if your bank balance has other ideas.
Following the original V4 SP and SP2, this latest version is another numbered special, aimed squarely at riders who’d rather explore the limits of a superbike somewhere with plenty of run-off. The Winter Test paintwork borrows from Ducati Corse’s MotoGP and WorldSBK machinery, with matte-black fairings, exposed carbon, a brushed aluminium tank and red detailing. There’s even a numbered, billet-machined steering head. Power comes from the familiar 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4, now kicking out 218hp at 13,500rpm… a couple of horses more than the standard bike. It gets longer gearing and a higher rev limit, while the racing gearbox moves neutral below first to avoid any unwanted surprises under hard braking.
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Ducati has also raided its racing parts catalogue for the aero package. Bigger two-element wings and Corner Sidepods are claimed to generate 25% more vertical load at 270km/h than the standard V4, with the sidepods using ground effect at big lean angles to help pull the bike towards the apex. The rest of the spec sheet is equally tasty: carbon-fibre wheels, STM dry clutch, Öhlins Smart EC 3.0 suspension, Brembo MCS master cylinder, adjustable billet footpegs and a DID ERV7 chain. And if that still isn’t enough, a full titanium Akrapovič exhaust is available, adding 11hp and 7Nm while dropping 6.6kg. The V4 SP reaches dealers in March 2027. UK pricing is still to be confirmed, but we expect it to be as premium as the product.
