Bologna bullet: Ducati bring WSB to the road with their next generation 240hp Panigale V4 R

Ducati are galloping headfirst into the 2023 World Superbike season with a new Panigale V4 R homologation special pumping out a claimed 237.2bhp in track-ready trim.

The 998cc V4 R exists to go racing, with Ducati’s larger displacement 1103cc V4 superbike models not meeting capacity regulations for major championships. First introduced for 2019, it’s the current dominant force in this year’s WSB title challenge at the hands of Alvaro Bautista.

This supremacy looks set to continue into 2023, with the new bike promising more power alongside more advanced aerodynamics, chassis components and bodywork.

Starting with the motor, the liquid cooled Desmosedici Stradale R unit is a stressed member for stiffness, with a small ‘front frame’ bolted to the front, and a four-stage-adjustable single-sided aluminium swing arm connecting to the rear.

Capable of revving out to 16,500rpm in top gear, with a cap of 16,000rpm on every other cog, it actually loses around 2bhp to 215bhp in Euro5-friendly trim but remains over 5bhp more powerful than BMW’s recently released M1000RR – also designed for racing.

This figure grows to a claimed 237.3bhp when equipped with the non-homologated, 5kg lighter titanium Akrapovič exhaust system though – up from around 231bhp on the first-generation machine.

Ducati say this power hike is aided by a new oil developed in partnership with Shell, which is said to reduce mechanical friction by 10% and boost power by as much as 4.4bhp at the rev limiter.

But it’s not just new liquid sloshing around inside the motor. The Bologna factory have added a set of ‘gun drilled’ titanium conrods (a long, thin drilling technique) which feature 1.6mm holes down the length of the rod. This helps the clever new oil pass from the head to the base more effectively, for claimed better reliability during high-intensity rides.

Not only that, but the piston skirt gets a Diamond Like Coating treatment used in MotoGP to reduce friction. Said to be a first for a road legal motorcycle, each piston is also 5g lighter to reduce inertia and boost reliability. So now you can go flat out for longer!

Other internal tweaks include a more aggressive intake cam profile, an 800g lighter dry clutch, and gear ratios to match the bikes competing in WSB. First, second and sixth gears have also all been lengthened, with a taller first gear being less awkward and aggressive on circuit.

But it’s not all about the engine, the new R is also suspended by manually adjustable Öhlins NPX25/30 pressurised forks (semi-active isn’t used in racing) with a 5mm travel increase. A fully adjustable Öhlins TTX36 shock absorber sits at the rear with a softer spring to help improve stability.

The bike’s forged rims can be replaced by a set of magnesium options that save a further 0.7kg of un-sprung weight.

The fuel tank has now grown to 17-litres from 16, with a different profile to support the rider more under braking. The seat has also flatter, which is aimed at making you feel more stable when on board.

As on the previous version, the brushed aluminium tank finish contrasts with the rest of the bike’s deep red paint, now complete with black and white ‘number one’ boards – a bold choice considering the V4 R is yet to win a WSB rider’s title.

New winglets have also been made more compact without sacrificing performance, with subtle changes to the lower fairing panels for heat extraction.  

Electronic overload

Like the 2023 Ducati Panigale V4S, the R gets some electronic updates, which are all controlled via a full-colour 5in TFT display. For starters, there’s a new Track Evo display, which allows dedicated riders to create specific electronic configurations for different circuits, dependant on personal preference.

On top of that, there’s also a system called Engine Brake Control (EBC) EVO 2 that allows you to select one of three engine braking levels for each gear.

You also get four power modes: Full, High, Medium, Low, with Full allowing the engine to use its maximum capabilities without electronic intervention in all but first gear. The new Low Power Mode has been designed for riding on the road or for low grip surfaces and limits the maximum power to a much more ‘sedate’ 157.8bhp.

Quick shifter smoothness is also said to be improved on both softer road and aggressive track applications and there’s an optional traction control mode for track-only wet tyres that has not been approved for road use.

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2019 Ducati Panigale V4 R video review