The Panigale V4 is the most sought-after bike and there could be as many as 10 of them on the WorldSBK grid next year. That is, if Dorna agrees to increase the number of bikes (and Ducatis) on the grid.
August 10, 2024
In the Portimao paddock, people aren’t just talking about the races and the current championship, but also about the market and the 2025 season. Even though BMW is dominating the championship with Toprak Razgatlioglu, the most sought-after bike by private teams is still the Ducati Panigale V4, and next year there could be as many as 10 of them on the starting grid of the premier class of derivatives.
The Spark Barni Racing Team has officially asked Dorna to be able to field two bikes, flanking the confirmed Danilo Petrucci with the emerging talent Yari Montella. The Panigale V2 is destined to go out of production and for this reason both the Barni team and the “official” Aruba team seem intent on abandoning Supersport, but while the Bergamo team will increase its commitment in Superbike, the official team will continue to field only two bikes, on which Nicolò Bulega and Alvaro Bautista will ride.
Another Ducati will be that of the Bonovo Action team, which, having concluded its adventure with BMW, has decided to move to the Italian manufacturer. If it terminates its contract with the Munich-based company, Scott Redding could ride the “German” V4, having already ridden the four-cylinder from Bologna in 2020 and 2021 when he was an official Aruba rider.
The list of red bikes from Bologna continues with the two from the ELF Marc VDS Racing Team, one of which will continue to be ridden by Sam Lowes, while rumors are gaining ground that the Belgian team’s second V4 could be entrusted to Adrian Huertas. Both the GoEleven and Motocorsa teams will be competing with just one bike. Andrea Iannone should remain on the Ramello family’s bike, while the collaboration between Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Lorenzo Mauri’s team will not be extended, as they are already looking for a rider to replace the former Ducati factory rider.
The tenth Panigale V4 will be that of the JDT Racing Team, which will reconfirm the Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin.
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