Ducati ‘World Champion Replica’ Panigale V4 S models sell out

To celebrate their dual World Championships in 2022 – Alvaro Bautista winning the Superbike World Championship and Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia winning the MotoGP World Championship – Ducati produced a limited-edition run of the Panigale V4 S with special liveries inspired by the Panigale V4 R and Desmosedici GP.

Only 260 units of the Bagnaia replica and 260 for the Bautista replica were to be produced, the totals inspired by Ducati’s foundation year of 1926. Liveries were influenced by the respective champion’s bike and individually numbered on a billet aluminium upper handlebar clamp that also included the model name and rider race number – 63 for Bagnaia and 19 for Bautista.

Each unit also carried a genuine signature of the respective rider, preserved under clear varnish, on the fuel tank. Both of the special limited editions were offered in single-seat configuration only, with the Bautista replica also featuring a brushed aluminium finish on the tank.

“2022 has been an incredible year for Ducati both on the track and in the market, confirming the integration and continuous transfer of technology and expertise between production and racing that is unparalleled in the world of motorcycling,” said Francesco Milicia, VP Global Sales & After Sales Ducati. “We thought the best way to share the successes of 2022 with the most passionate Ducatisti was to provide them with exclusive, numbered bikes, individually signed by Pecco and Alvaro.”

The special edition Panigales offered no additional power or torque from the Panigale’s Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine (158.5kW/123.6Nm), nor any changes to the six-speed gearbox, suspension, riding modes or other tech, but the Bagnaia/Bautista replicas did come with race-inspired parts as standard, like a carbon fibre and titanium swingarm, an STM-EVO SBK dry clutch, Akrapovic muffler, Brembo brakes (including Stylema calipers and an adjustable MCS master cylinder), carbon fibre mudguards, brake ducts and selected engine covers, Rizoma billet footpegs and a “racing” plexiglass screen.

Other accessories included, but not fitted, to the racing replicas consisted of number plate and mirror removal kits, an open clutch cover and a racing cap for the fuel tank. Each unit also came with a personalised bike cover, Certificate of Authenticity, Ducati’s Data Analyser+ data acquisition system and was shipped to customers in a special crate with its own graphics.

Officially known as the ‘Panigale V4 Bagnaia 2022 World Champion Replica’ and ‘Panigale V4 Bautista 2022 World Champion Replica,’ both bikes were revealed on 15 December at the ‘Campioni in Piazza’ event in Bologna – with Bagnaia and Bautista in attendance - before they were offered to the public.

Just a few hours after they were made available, all 520 units had been sold, with many Ducatisti purchasing one of each bike. This despite a price tag rumoured to be approximately $83,000 per unit. The regular Panigale V4 S has a suggested ride away price of $45,000.

Whether any of the buyers of the World Champion replicas Panigales were Australian is unknown.