I had to skip the second part of Ultimate Sportsbike when Bruce and Tim went to Portimao with, among others, the Ducati Panigale V4SP. I was on launch duty at the same time, getting to know another Ducati – this time the Streetfighter V2 – so this was my second date with the Panigale since I last rode it for USB21.
If I’m being honest, it’s always with a certain amount of trepidation when I ride a bike that I’ve previously heaped praise on and waxed lyrical about. My exact words about the V4SP on the record were: “It is a beautiful bike, and there are touches all over it that makes its massive price tag seem like good value. The fuel tank is a work of art when you get the seat off – it’s only a shame that most of it is out of sight under the seat. As well as having the best engine, best tech, best brakes, most character and nearly the best comfort, the V4SP’s greatest asset must be that it is one of those bikes that come along very rarely that make me think will I ride a bike as good as this ever again?”
The worry is that you look back on big statements like that and a tiny bit of self-doubt creeps in, making me wonder
