Tag Archives: Panigale V4R

Aruba.it Racing Ducati present 2019 line-up

2019 WorldSBK Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R livery revealed

Álvaro Bautista & Chaz Davies headline Ponte San Pietro team launch

The 2019 Superbike World Championship Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team has officially unveiled the new Panigale V4R in team livery, as well as introducing Álvaro Bautista who joins Chaz Davies on the team, having competed the last nine years in MotoGP.

WorldSBK Aruba it Racing Ducati Team Presentation UC
2019 WorldSBK Aruba.it Racing Ducati team presentation

2019 is a particularly noteworthy year for Ducati, as the manufacturer introduces a four-cylinder Superbike for the very first time in the Panigale V4 R, having won 17 Manufacturers’ and 14 Riders’ titles since 1988.

The Panigale V4 R, developed on the basis of experience accumulated in MotoGP, features a number of evolutions from the previous model, not only from an engine point of view, but also in terms of chassis, electronics and aerodynamics.

WorldSBK Aruba it Racing Ducati Team Presentation Bautista
Álvaro Bautista

With regard to the riders, the arrival of Álvaro Bautista is equally significant, the Spaniard highly motivated and ready to face a new professional challenge in Superbike after nine years spent racing in MotoGP.

The 34-year-old from Talavera de la Reina is a rider with considerable experience, having also raced in 250cc and in 125cc, the category in which he won the title in 2006, and he has rapidly adapted to the new technical scenario.

Álvaro Bautista

“I can’t wait to start this new adventure. The balance of the winter tests is really positive. The project is a new one and there’s still a lot of work to be done but lap after lap we found a good base to work on. I still have to adapt to this new technical situation, particularly the tyres, but the performance shown in just six days of testing is undoubtedly encouraging. Phillip Island is a spectacular track and I’ve always liked it, there couldn’t be a better place to begin this exciting new adventure and we’ll do our best to be ready.”

WorldSBK Aruba it Racing Ducati Team Presentation Bautista
Álvaro Bautista

He will line up alongside the 31-year-old Welshman from Knighton, Chaz Davies, three-time championship runner-up in the last four seasons, who has put the past year’s bad injuries behind him and who will tackle his sixth successive season in Superbike aboard a factory Ducati.

WorldSBK Aruba it Racing Ducati Team Presentation Davies
Chaz Davies
Chaz Davies

“I’m very excited and motivated about the season that’s about to start. After five years and many great memories with the twin-cylinder bike, the time has come to begin a new challenge and I can’t wait to get back on track with the Panigale V4 R. My last tests were hampered a bit by the twinge I felt in my back, but my overall physical condition is much better than last year and in any case we managed to complete our test schedule. We’ve still got two more days of testing left and they will be fundamental to define the last details, and then finally we’ll be racing again. The start of the year is going to be even more exciting than ever, and having a new bike – as well as a new team-mate – is going to be extra motivation for me.”

WorldSBK Aruba it Racing Ducati Team Presentation Davies
Chaz Davies

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will now set off for Australia, where the traditional pre-season tests will be taking place at Phillip Island on 18th and 19th February in view of the opening round of the 2019 Superbike World Championship held at the same track on the following weekend, from 22nd to 24th February.

Claudio Domenicali – CEO of Ducati Motor Holding

“This year we will truly witness a historic turning-point. Racing is an inseparable part of Ducati, just think of the many examples in which the technology and know-how developed on the track have then been applied to production models. The Panigale V4 is a perfect example of this philosophy: it’s the first Ducati production bike to be fitted with a four-cylinder engine and equipped with technology coming from MotoGP. In just twelve months it has become the new benchmark for style, technology and performance, with more than 6,100 units delivered across the globe, and it has allowed us – for the first time ever in company history – to achieve a global sales record in the superbike market segment. Now we also want to take it to the top on the track, its natural habitat, by making it become the king of SBK in the 1000cc R version.”

WorldSBK Aruba it Racing Ducati Team Presentation Claudio Domenicali
Claudio Domenicali – CEO of Ducati Motor Holding

2019 WorldSBK Calendar

  • Round 1 – Phillip Island – February 22-24
  • Round 2 – Buriram – March 15-17
  • Round 3 – Aragon – April 5-7
  • Round 4 – Assen – April 12-14
  • Round 5 – Imola – May 10-12
  • Round 6 – Jerez – June 7-9
  • Round 7 – Misano – June 21-23
  • Round 8 – Donington – July 5-7
  • Round 9 – TBA – July 19-21
  • Round 10 – Portimao – September 6-8
  • Round 11 – Mangy-Cours September 27-29
  • Round 12 – San Juan – October 11-13
  • Round 13 – Losail – October 24-26 (Thurs-Sat)

Source: MCNews.com.au

Troy Bayliss tests Ducati Panigale V4R at Morgan Park

Images Karlos Neale

Troy Bayliss rode the Ducati Panigale V4R for the first time during a DesmoSport Ducati test at Morgan Park this week.

Ducati Panigale VR Troy Bayliss
Troy Bayliss tests Ducati Panigale V4R at Morgan Park

This was very much a first initial shakedown for the limited edition and somewhat bespoke Panigale V4R.

Ducati Panigale VR Troy Bayliss
Troy Bayliss tests Ducati Panigale V4R at Morgan Park – Team Manager Ben Henry

Unlike the other 1,103cc Panigale V4 models, the V4R displaces a short-stroke 998 cc in order to meet World Superbike capacity limitations.

Ducati Panigale VR Troy Bayliss
DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4R – Troy Bayliss exits pitlane at Morgan Park

The V4R has been built with winning back the World Superbike Championship crown for Ducati as first and foremost in its design and mission statement. The Paniglae V4R spins to 16,500 rpm and makes 231 horsepower with the kit exhaust.

Ducati Panigale VR DesmoSport Ducati
DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4R

DesmoSport Ducati also hope that will translate to ASBK Championship winning performance in the hands of Troy Bayliss.

Ducati Panigale VR Troy Bayliss
Troy Bayliss tests Ducati Panigale V4R at Morgan Park

With only one V4R to play with, no spares, and not even any race bodywork, the team will be up against the clock in order to get the machine on to the grid at the ASBK season opener late next month at Phillip Island.

Ducati Panigale VR DesmoSport Ducati V
Will we see the V4R or the 1299 Panigale R Final Edition on the track at round one is yet to be decided

The team already know they have a well-sorted and race winning package in the Ducati Panigale R Final Edition, and until they have the necessary spares on hand, are in no great rush to have the new V4R on the grid for the season opener.

Ducati Panigale VR DesmoSport Ducati
Will we see the V4R or the 1299 Panigale R Final Edition on the track at round one is yet to be decided

The team tested a range of new Pirelli rubber this week at Morgan Park, and while they concentrated on the big twin, TB also did turn a few exploratory laps on the new V4R.

Ducati Panigale VR Troy Bayliss
Troy Bayliss tests Ducati Panigale V4R at Morgan Park

It was enough to highlight the eventual race potential of the new V4R, but they will need to do a number of long runs on the machine before they will be ready to put it on an ASBK grid.

Ducati Panigale VR DesmoSport Ducati
DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4R

More testing is planned ahead of round one as they evaluate whether they can get in a position to start the season on the 16,500rpm V4R. Or whether it will have to wait until round two at Wakefield Park, or perhaps it might debut in South Australia at The Bend.

Ducati Panigale VR DesmoSport Ducati
DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4R while in the shadows is the 1299 Panigale R Final Edition

Even if fans might not get to see TB race the machine at the beginning of the season, the V4R will still be in the pits and will no doubt get fired up from time to time so you can hear the Termignoni roar.

Ducati Panigale VR DesmoSport Ducati
DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4R

Images Karlos Neale


2019 ASBK Calendar
  • Official ASBK Test – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC February 2 – 3
  • Round 1- WSBK – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC February 21 – 24
  • Round 2- Wakefield Park Raceway – Goulburn NSW March 22 – 24
  • Round 3- The Bend Motorsport Park – Tailem Bend, SA April 26 – 28
  • Round 4- Morgan Park Raceway – Warwick, QLD July 5 – 7
  • Round 5- Winton Motor Raceway – Benalla, VIC September 6 – 8
  • Round 6- Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC October 4 – 6
  • Round 7- Sydney Motorsport Park – Eastern Creek, NSW November 1 – 3
Round Location Date SBK SSPT SSP300 R3 Cup OCE J Cup Sidecars Masters
ASBK Test  Phillip Isl 2-3 Feb X X X X X
Round 1 Phillip Isl 21-24 Feb X X X
Round 2 Wakefield 22-24 Mar X X X X X X
Round 3 The Bend 26-28 Apr X X X
Round 4 Morgan P 5-7 Jul X X X X X X
Round 5 Winton 6-8 Sep X X X X X X
Round 6 Phillip Isl 4-6 Oct X X X X X X
Round 7 Eastern C 1-3 Nov X X X X X X

Source: MCNews.com.au