EFFORTLESS EXTREMES
This bike threatened to be seriously intimidating, especially round the Circuit de Valencia. The Panigale V4 kicks out a phenomenal 211bhp and weighs just 195kg fully fuelled. The Circuit Ricardo Tormo launch venue mostly comprises tight, second-gear turns – potentially a handful for such a ferociously powerful machine.
So on just my second lap of the Spanish track, it’s a great feeling to crank through the turn six Angel Nieto left-hander onto the back straight, open the throttle and hold on tight as the Ducati leaps forward, lifts its front wheel slightly and runs out towards the kerb… while remaining superbly precise, controllable and a total blast to ride, just as it has through the last few bends.
The Panigale V4 is stupendously quick and capable and there was never much doubt that it would be both those things. But what impressed me more, even on those first few laps of Valencia, was how effortless and rider-friendly it was.
That shouldn’t have been a surprise because, when you’re aboard a super-light bike that puts over 200bhp through its rear tyre’s palm-of-the-hand-size contact
