Ducati gives the Panigale V4 R a last minute upgrade

Bruno Gomes

December 6, 2018

Ducati Panigale V4 R

Ducati Corse has demanded Ducati to introduce a last minute change, and upgrade, to their brand-new Panigale V4 R, after the factory supported World Superbike team Aruba.it Ducati tested the race version in Jerez, this past week.

According to a press release issued by Ducati, the new Panigale V4 R will bring back the famous dry clutch to their superbike lineup.

The first version of the Panigale V4 R showed by Ducati at the last EICMA Milan motorcycle show, in November, used a wet clutch system just like it was introduced by the Italian brand on their most powerful superbikes when the twin-cylinder Panigale appeared a few years back.

But Ducati Corse engineers discovered, after talking with team riders Chaz Davies and Alvaro Bautista, that the wet clutch wasn’t able to offer the same kind of feedback they need when braking into a corner. Both riders tested the Panigale V4 R race bike in Jerez last week, with wet clutch and with dry clutch, and their opinion is that the dry clutch offers better feedback from engine brake function, meaning they’ll be able to go around the corners much faster since they’re able braking is much more stable.

Ducati Panigale V4 R

Ducati accepted the demand, so before the first units of the World Superbike homologation special Panigale V4 R start to roll out of the factory in Borgo Panigale, on their way to Ducatisti around the world, the dry clutch replaced the wet clutch.

This specific dry clutch is built by specialists STM. The STM EVO-SBK dry clutch features nine clutch discs and, more significant, a secondary spring, to adjust the discs with higher pressure.

With 221 hp, which might go up to 231 hp if the bike is fitted with race exhaust from Akrapovic, the Ducati Panigale V4 R will finally bring back the iconic dry clutch sound Ducatisti missed so much these last few years.

The Panigale V4 R press launch was held, precisely, in Jerez, and some lucky journalists already tried the bike fitted with dry clutch.