Ducati Superleggera V4 Centenario

From a press release issued by Ducati:

Since its inception, Ducati has been working with one conviction: limits are not an obstacle, but a starting point. In this century of history, the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer has created motorcycles that surpass and redefine expectations, the result of passion, vision, engineering rigor, and determination.

And when the motorcycle is a Superleggera, the mission is always the same: to create the motorcycle of dreams, without limits and without compromise. Not a mere exercise in style, nor a prototype, but the desire to transform freedom into engineering. In its centenary year, which brings together a century of moments that have marked the history of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, Ducati presents the most extreme road bike ever developed: the new Superleggera V4 Centenario.

Superleggera bikes are created when Ducati engineers are given total freedom. No constraints. No compromises. Just the goal of creating the road-legal super sportbike that all enthusiasts dream of. Every Superleggera pushes the technological boundaries of the motorcycle world. It brings solutions never seen on a production bike. It opens up new avenues. It changes the rules.

The Superleggera V4 Centenario is based on the seventh generation of Ducati's Superbike, features a fully carbon-fibre chassis, and marks the debut of the first carbon-ceramic braking system and a fork with carbon-fibre stanchions ever fitted to a road-legal motorcycle. It is the first to use a fork with carbon-fibre sleeves and is also the first to produce 228 horsepower (Euro %+ configuration), which increases to 247 horsepower with the racing exhaust. The wet weight without fuel is just 381 lb, dropping to 368 lb when fitted with the standard racing kit. Every fibre of its carbon, every screw, every tiny choice is aimed at the pursuit of perfection. The closest thing to the impossible we have ever dared to create.

To date, Ducati is the only company in the world that has produced motorcycles like this. Limited-edition collector's items are highly sought after by collectors worldwide. True unicorns of motorcycling, created for those who understand that owning a Superleggera means much more than owning a motorcycle. This happened in 2013 with the first 1199 Superleggera, the first motorcycle to feature a magnesium-alloy frame, swingarm, and wheels. The limits were pushed again with the 2016 1299 Superleggera, the world's first motorcycle to feature a carbon-fibre chassis. The bar was raised even further with the 2020 Panigale V4 Superleggera, the motorcycle that took aerodynamics to the extreme, and now, with the Superleggera V4 Centenario, Ducati is rewriting the rules of what is possible on a production motorcycle.

In addition to the 500 Superleggera V4 Centenario bikes, there are 100 Superleggera V4 Centenario Tricolore bikes to further mark this historic milestone for the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer. The livery creates a link between tradition, the present, and the future, combining the vision of new technologies with the colours of tradition. The livery celebrates the legacy of the 750 F1 Endurance Racing, the last “classic” two-valve racing model and one of the most iconic and rare Ducati's of the 1980s. The Tricolore colours that once dominated the racetracks are revisited in a revamped design that combines retro charm and modernity. The result is a highly evocative livery, created for those who love the authentic spirit of past glories without sacrificing today's style and technology.

MotoGP Experience
The Superleggera V4 Centenario offers the chance to make an even more incredible dream come true. Twenty-six of its owners will be given access to the MotoGP Experience (not approved for road use): a day on the track, guided by Ducati instructors, to discover the Superleggera's performance, culminating in a breathtaking finale aboard the DesmosediciGP26. The MotoGP Experience will take place on July 6-7, immediately following World Ducati Week 2026.

MotoGP-derived brakes and suspension
The Superleggera V4 Centenario is the world's first road bike equipped with carbon-ceramic brake discs approved for road use. The new Brembo discs are built around a core made of CSiC, a carbon fibre-reinforced ceramic compound. This technology offers a unique combination of lightness, rigidity, and thermal stability. The disc maintains its efficiency even at very high temperatures, ensuring consistent braking under extreme use, without the added weight of larger-diameter and thicker metal discs.
Compared to steel discs, the new carbon-ceramic discs deliver the same level of power but weigh 450 grams less per disc and have 40% lower moment of inertia. This reduction in inertia improves the bike's agility, making corner entry even more natural and precise. Compared to the standard 330 mm Panigale V4 discs, the carbon-ceramic discs have the same weight but even lower inertia, thanks to a more favourable mass distribution, and, of course, offer far superior resistance to extreme track use.

The system also includes new Brembo GP4-HY monoblock boosted callipers machined from solid aluminium, with integrated cooling fins and differentiated 30 and 34 mm pistons. The callipers use an anti-drag system that completely releases the disc when the rider releases the lever, eliminating residual torque and thus improving smoothness when entering corners. The pads are specifically designed to work with the carbon-ceramic surface, ensuring precision and modulation under all conditions.

The suspension also sets a new world first: the Superleggera V4 Centenario is the first road bike to feature the pressurized Öhlins NPX 25/30 Carbon fork with carbon fiber sleeves made from unidirectional layers to achieve maximum weight savings compared to conventional production. The weight saving compared to the Panigale V4 R is 8%, rising to 10% compared to the standard Panigale V4, with a tangible improvement in direction changes and front-end sensitivity.

The mechanical fork, designed to minimize weight, keeps the cartridge pressurized, reducing cavitation and providing more consistent support during braking and corner entry.

At the rear, the Öhlins TTX36 GP LW shock absorber features a special steel spring for maximum lightness and MotoGP-derived valves that enhance the rear wheel's ability to trace small road imperfections and improve small-bump control, with easy, tool-free hydraulic adjustment. The suspension linkages are made of titanium, again for maximum lightness. A combination that brings MotoGP suspension to enthusiasts.

Carbon fibre chassis
In the Superleggera V4 Centenario, the relentless pursuit of lightness and precision typical of high-end craftsmanship reaches one of its highest points in Ducati's history. The entire chassis is made of carbon fiber: the frame, swingarm, subframes, and wheels are developed using the same technologies used in MotoGP and Formula 1. A radical, uncompromising approach that brings prototype solutions to the road.

The carbon front frame weighs 17% less than the aluminum one on the Panigale V4, offering calibrated stiffness to improve cornering grip and the natural tendency to close the line. The swingarm is manufactured using a sacrificial mandrel process, which enables a very light monolithic structure. Compared to the aluminium component, it is 21% lighter while maintaining equivalent lateral and torsional stiffness, ensuring maximum grip out of corners.

Every single element of the chassis has been designed for maximum lightness, with absolute determination. The five-spoke wheels are almost 300 grams lighter than those of the Panigale V4 S Carbon, the front subframe weighs 200 grams less, and the rear monocoque reduces weight by 3 lb. The result is a weight of only 381 lb in road configuration, which drops to 368 lb when fitted with the standard-supplied racing kit.

To ensure the highest structural quality, every single carbon fibre component in each Superleggera is inspected using three different non-destructive testing methods: Transient Active Thermography, Phased Array Ultrasonics, and Computed Axial Tomography. This is the same process used in the aerospace industry, and one that Ducati has employed on all Superleggera models since the 1299.

Desmosedici Stradale R 1100 Engine
The Superleggera V4 Centenario introduces a new engine: the Desmosedici Stradale R 1100, developed specifically for this project to create the most sophisticated Superleggera ever made. The displacement increases from 998 to 1,103 cc thanks to the stroke lengthening from 48.41 mm to 53.5 mm. This modification allows for more torque and more thrust at intermediate revs, without penalizing acceleration. In the road Euro 5+ configuration, the engine delivers 228 hp, which increases to 247 hp with the Akrapovič racing exhaust and Ducati Corse Performance oil. A threshold never before reached by a homologated motorcycle.

The engine is 8 lb lighter than the 1,103-cc unit of the Panigale V4 with dry clutch. The reduction is due to the use of titanium, lighter screws and redesigned internal components to reduce rotating masses. The two-ring pistons (one ring and one scraper) use “box-in-box” technology and feature an oversized piston pin to handle the increase in power.

The cylinder heads retain the same configuration as the 998 cc Desmosedici Stradale R engine, with 34 mm titanium intake valves and 27.5 mm steel exhaust valves. All sixteen valves use titanium semi-cones, a solution typical of competition engines. The timing of the Desmodromic system is manually set and certified by a plate signed by the technician who performs the check. Craftsmanship excellence is applied to cutting-edge technology.

The crankshaft has been lightened by replacing the steel counterweights with tungsten inserts. Tungsten is much denser than steel, which allows the same balancing effect to be achieved using smaller, more compact inserts, particularly when positioned in the outermost areas, i.e. at high radius, where their effect is greatest. The result is faster revving and more immediate throttle response, while reducing stress on the bearings and other mechanical components and maintaining the strength needed to withstand the power level achieved.

The engine breathes through oval throttle bodies measuring 56 mm, larger than the 52 mm of the Desmosedici Stradale. The trumpets are fixed to reduce weight and optimized with different lengths (20 mm on the left, 10 mm on the right) to improve flow. The upper injectors have improved atomization thanks to the tip that brings the spray closer to the duct. The exhaust system uses titanium manifolds with an increased diameter of 41.7 mm and an approved Akrapovič silencer.

The transmission relies on the Ducati Racing Gearbox, with neutral positioned under first gear instead of between first and second. This solution, thanks to the Ducati Neutral Lock (DNL) system, eliminates the possibility of accidentally engaging neutral and finding yourself without engine braking in the final, most delicate phase of braking when entering corners in first gear. Furthermore, the absence of a neutral between first and second gear makes shifting between these two gears faster, smoother, and more repeatable than with a traditional gearbox configuration.

The chain is a DID ERV7, the same used by Superbike Factory teams, which on the Superleggera V4 Centenario works on an Ergal sprocket. This choice allows for a reduction of 1.5 lb compared to the Panigale V4 S components.

Beauty designed by the wind
On the Superleggera V4 Centenario, aesthetics and aerodynamics merge to become one. The highly efficient wings and Corner Sidepods, designed to generate downforce at high lean angles, are derived directly from the Panigale V4 R Superbike. Introduced by Ducati in MotoGP in 2021, the Corner Sidepods solution generates a 'ground effect' in the middle of the corner, ensuring a higher level of grip for the tires and thus allowing higher speeds and therefore lower lap times.

The fairing of the Superleggera V4 Centenario is made entirely of carbon fibre and left partially exposed to highlight the material's purity. Of course, to minimize weight, the Superleggera is equipped with many other carbon-fibre components: mudguards, tank cover, rad-duct, sprocket cover, heel guards, steering splash guards, seat base, intake duct, license plate holder, and rear bank cover.

The radiator cap, footrest plates, accessory fuel tank cap, and, of course, the upper and lower steering plates are made of billet aluminium. The former is further highlighted by the lasered model number (XXX/500), in the dedicated dashboard animation and on the titanium insert of the ignition key, reminding you of the exclusivity of a limited series every time you look at it.

The GP26 livery combines Ducati's iconic white stripes with the new matt Rosso Centenario red. A dark red, like that of its origins: from the red of the 1949 Ducati 60, the first complete motorcycle that marked Ducati's entry among motorcycle manufacturers, to that of the 1955 Gran Sport 'Marianna', the first Ducati designed for racing, signed by engineer Fabio Taglioni. It was the GP26 livery of the Superleggera V4 Centenario that inspired that of the official Desmosedici bikes of the Lenovo team.
MotoGP-derived Electronics
The electronics of the Superleggera V4 Centenario represent the state of the art for road-approved motorcycles. The control suite is derived from that of the Panigale V4 R, recalibrated and enriched with new, latest-generation DVO strategies. The aim is to offer even more control and allow even non-professionals to experience the riding techniques of MotoGP riders.

Ducati Traction Control (DTC) DVO, Wheelie Control (DWC) DVO, Slide Control (DSC) and Ducati Power Launch (DPL) DVO offer more precise management thanks to new algorithms. Cornering ABS now includes, in addition to RaceBrake Control and Road eCBS strategies, the new Engine Brake Control DVO, which introduces the Dynamic Engine Brake (DEB) function.

The latter automatically adjusts engine braking forces by also using the rear brake, optimizing available grip under braking based on the rear-wheel load. In addition, DEB improves braking performance during corner entry by using the rear brake even when the front brake is released, as professional riders use this method manually. This allows even less-experienced riders to focus only on the front brake during corner entry. By applying rear during corner entry, this allows riders to tighten the line, improving their confidence during this critical phase.

The collectors' specials of the Superleggera V4 Centenario
The Superleggera V4 Centenario is delivered in an exclusive, customized wooden case. Each motorcycle comes with a certificate of authenticity, stored in a special box, a dedicated motorcycle cover, and a mat and front- and rear-paddock stands, designed to enhance its presence.

The special equipment, which includes the racetrack racing kit, further enhances the Superleggera V4 Centenario's uniqueness. Each model features the Akrapovič racing exhaust, DAVC Race Pro software, and a dedicated lower fairing, open clutch cover, swingarm, and alternator cover protectors, all crafted from carbon fibre.

The case also contains a kit for removing the headlights, side stand, license plate holder, and direction indicators to complete the track configuration, a racing aluminium fuel cap machined from solid, a brake lever guard, a charge maintainer, and a neoprene racing seat.

The exclusivity of the Superleggera V4 Centenario is heightened by the chance, available only to its owners, to complete their look with a limited-edition helmet, leather jacket, and suit, all featuring a colour scheme that echoes the GP26 Rosso Centenario livery.

Main Standard Equipment
- Desmosedici Stradale R 1100 engine, 1103 cc
- Titanium intake valves
- Hand-adjusted desmodromic valve train with nameplate and fitter's signature
- Lightweight crankshaft with tungsten inserts
- Lightweight pistons with 18 mm piston pin
- Titanium connecting rods
- Titanium engine bolts
- Maximum power of 228 hp (247 hp with racing exhaust)
- Wet weight without fuel: 381 lb (368 lb with racing exhaust)
- Ducati Racing Gearbox with Ducati Neutral Lock
- STM Revo clutch
- Carbon fibre front frame
- Carbon fibre rear frame
- Carbon fibre double-sided swingarm
- Öhlins NPX25/30 Carbon pressurized fork with carbon fibre stanchions and full-length fork legs
- Öhlins TTX36 GP LW shock absorber with lightweight special steel spring
- Dedicated carbon fibre wheels
- Brembo braking system with Hyction 340 mm carbon-ceramic discs and GP4-HY billet monoblock callipers
- Latest-generation electronics package with 6D IMU: four-level cornering ABS; Ducati Traction Control (DTC) DVO; Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) DVO; Ducati Slide Control; Ducati Power Launch (DPL) DVO; Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) 2.0; Engine Brake Control (EBC) DVO with Dynamic Engine Brake (DEB) strategy.
- Akrapovič racing exhaust with DAVC software and dedicated calibration**
- Dedicated lower fairing**
- Open carbon fibre clutch cover**
- Swingarm protectors
- Alternator cover protector
- Headlight, side stand, number plate holder, and indicators removal kit**
- Machined aluminium racing fuel cap**
- Brake lever guard
- Battery charger
- Neoprene racing seat
- Dedicated wooden crate
- Dedicated paddock stands, mat, and motorcycle cover

** Components not approved for road use