Iconic Italian Sports motorcycles come from Ducati, and every biker knows their models. The latest version of the purebred Panigale V4S will be discussed as all Ducatis are, and at £30000, there will still be plenty of buyers seeking looks, performance and the aura of an Italian stallion. The 2025 is more refined than previous generations but hasn't been tamed completely.

The Ducati Panigale V4S is a machine designed for the track, which may also see some road use, and in both situations, it will give you immense confidence. Every operation, be it braking or twisting the throttle, is spot on, allowing you to push yourself and the bike on the twisties of country roads and the bends at Brands Hatch.

Ducati has made the 2025 version of the Panigale V4S more amicable to ride thanks to subtle changes and a weight reduction. 2kg lighter than the previous model, the latest model also has more space to move on a roomier saddle. You also benefit from a reshaped fuel tank, which is easier to grip when braking and cornering.

Third-generation Ohlins semi-active suspension is suppler, better controlled and accurate to adjust, and the forged aluminium wheels weigh less; its uprated quickshifter is sublime, with the taller valuable screen for taller riders, and there's more ground clearance, thanks to footpegs tucked in by 10mm.

Significant change comes from a new frame and double-sided swingarm, which are lighter and have significantly more lateral flex. You get a better feel and grip at full lean, and the chassis is more in tune with the stickier Pirellis, which are Diablo Super Corsa V4 SPs as standard. The bike is kinder on its tyres, and when the grip fades, it stays as stable and predictable as any conventional Japanese or European superbike.

Ducati has realised that chassis flex is critical to getting premium handling from the Panigale V4S, so they have worked hard and long in R&D, with supreme benefits to track and road riders of all levels.

Electronics feature heavily on the Ducati, and the 2025 machine excels with its assistance and aids in safety and performance. You get traction, slide, wheelie, launch, and engine braking control, which an Inertial Measurement Unit and powerful ECU serve. The Ducati Vehicle Observer predicts 70 virtual ground forces acting on the machine, resulting in the aids controlling the V4's power safely and predictably, whether you want to slide your way around a track or ride wheels in line. On a race track, you decide when to open up out of a corner, hold the throttle to the max and let the electronics take care of the rest. It prevents you from worrying about what the bike will do so that you can focus on positioning.

The Ducati Panigale V4's new braking system features Brembo Hypure callipers with phenomenal stopping power and improved cooling. Seven levels of ABS start with 'fully safe' ABS for the road, ABS for the front wheel only, and ABS that controls a rear slide into corners when you stamp on the rear brake. The Race eCBS system is also available and operates the rear brake when you pull the front brake, adding extra stability. The system brakes the rear with the perfect amount of pressure remaining after the front brake is released, helping the Ducati into a turn. It works wonderfully and mimics what a MotoGP rider does naturally.

Ducati has removed stiffness from the Panigale over the years, and the 2025 bike is miles from the original V-twin's rigid, cast airbox chassis. To gain feel, grip, and stability in every corner phase, the aluminium' front frame' has a 40% reduction in lateral stiffness and is 730g lighter. The single-sided swingarm has been replaced by The 'Ducati Hollow Section Swingarm', which is double-sided and has 37% less lateral stiffness along with the new wheel assembly and shorter rear shock, weighing 3.8kg less than before.

The Ducati Panigale V4S' lines are flatter, like those of a 916 or Ducati's MotoGP racer. The Lights are smaller than the previous model, and the fairing nose is 4% slipperier with an air scoop hidden centrally. You get colour-coded wings that create the same downforce, and they integrate into the bodywork. The fairing's leading edges are trimmed, creating less drag when changing directions.

Compared to rival superbikes, the level of performance, tech, equipment, and sublimeness you get for your money means that the Ducati Panigale V4S leaves them all in its mirrors.

Rivals to the Ducati Panigale V4S are the insane Aprilia RSV4 Factory, the more refined BMW S1000RR and the track-focused only R1M from Yamaha.

Ducati has not held back anything on the Panigale V4S, and they have packed it full of track and road aids, all as standard, which you would expect from a £30k machine. You get uprated electronic rider aids, multiple rider modes, traction/slide/wheelie/engine braking/launch control, and an up/down quickshifter.

The bike has an Ohlins semi-active suspension, lightweight forged aluminium wheels, Brembo Hypure brakes, and tyre pressure and temperature monitors. The 6.9 colour TFT display is superb and has an 8:3 aspect ratio, with more precise graphics and easy-to-read information in road and track layouts.

With the flexy frame, more advanced electronics, a clever braking system and many detail upgrades, the 2025 Panigale V4S has developed into a mighty fine track bike which will lap faster than the outgoing model. It has become a relatively easy 213bhp superbike to ride, which is kinder on tyres, and its handling and stability stay consistent, even when the grip fades away.

The Ducati Panigale V4S enables you to ride better on the track, carrying on to road use with all the assistance the electronics provide. You can exploit the full potential of a potent bike and enjoy the experience like never before. It will surely be popular with regular track riders and even more so with leisure riders.

£30000