For the first time in history, Ducati has won the Triple Crown in both WorldSBK and MotoGP. To celebrate this appropriately, the Italians have launched two special editions of the Panigale V4: one based on Pecco Bagnaia’s GP22 and one based on Alvaro Bautista’s Pani V4 R.
In the Foggy and then the Bayliss era it was the most normal thing in the world that a Limited Edition racing replica was put on the market – even a super cool replica of Ben Bostrom was put on the market at the time, but that time is long gone behind us, after the last world title in 2011, Ducati’s dominance in worldSBK seemed to have come to an end.
Only when Ducati switched from the V-twin to the Panigale V4, according to many a MotoGP racer with a license plate, did the world title really come within reach for the first time, but Bautista overplayed his cards and the title still went to Johnny Rea.
Three years after that debacle, Bautista and Ducati still got their act together and dominated the season, winning the world title again eleven years later. And not only the drivers’ title, Ducati also won the constructors’ championship and the team’s title.
A week earlier, Ducati had already managed to win the premier class world title in MotoGP for the first time since Casey Stoner in 2007, thanks to an amazing season with Pecco Bagnaia, who was 91 points behind the then World Championship after the race at the Sachsenring leader Fabio Quartararo had and seemed hopeless for the title.
In addition to the drivers’ title, Ducati also won the constructors’ title and the team’s title, a dream result for Ducati that came true thanks to the exceptional work of the engineers, teams and riders, but especially Ducati Corse big boss Gigi Dall’Inga. A double triumph that Ducati wanted to celebrate with two unique collector’s items.
The two special series, based on the Panigale V4 S, are painted in the colors of the bikes of Pecco Bagnaia #63 and Álvaro Bautista #19. Each motorcycle in the series is made unique by the rider’s original signature on the tank, which is then protected with a layer of clear lacquer.
The two motorcycles, produced in a numbered and limited series, celebrate Ducati’s birth year in their production numbers. In fact, each series will consist of just 260 pieces, in honor of 1926, the year the Bologna-based company was founded.
The Panigale V4 2022 World Champion Replica bikes, like the race bikes they are inspired by, are only offered as a single seater and are enhanced by the solid aluminum machined yoke with laser engraving of the model name and progressive number.
The replica models feature a nine-disc STM-EVO SBK dry clutch, an Akrapovič street-legal muffler (2 kg lighter than the standard Panigale V4), a Brembo braking system with Stylema R calipers and MCS master cylinder with distance control, adjustable footrests from Rizoma of milled aluminum and racing plexiglass.
Other technical details that characterize these special motorcycles are the rear exhaust manifold heat shield, alternator cover, front and rear fenders and front brake air ducts, all made of carbon.
The one-sided swingarm cover is also made of carbon fiber, combined with titanium. The series dedicated to Álvaro Bautista #19 features the brushed aluminum tank found on the more refined versions of the Panigale V4.
Each bike comes in a crate with special graphics and comes with a certificate of authenticity, custom bike cover and the Ducati Data Analyser+ data acquisition system.
Those who want to take advantage of the performance of these two motorcycles on the track can fit the extra included accessories, such as the carbon fiber open clutch cover, license plate and mirror removal kits and the aluminum racing fuel cap.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.