Ducati and red are an inseparable combination, but this connection was not born by chance. Historically, red is the colour that represents Italy in motorsport, a tradition that dates back to the 1920s, when the FIA (then known as the AIACR) assigned distinctive racing colours to each nation: blue to France, green to Great Britain, silver to Germany and red to Italy. Over time, this colour became a symbol of national pride, passion and speed. And for Ducati, it is much more than that.

Yet Ducati did not immediately adopt red as its signature colour. In its early decades, Ducati motorcycles were produced in a variety of colours, including grey, light blue and dark blue. Even in racing, red was present, but in shades closer to deep burgundy, far removed from the vibrant Rosso Corsa now synonymous with Ducati. This still undefined colour identity reflected a Ducati that was in the process of discovering its own identity and awareness.

A fundamental turning point came in the 1980s. During that period, Ducati was redefining its positioning and searching for a clear identity that could express its Italian and sporting spirit. It was then that the company recognised red as the perfect expression of the brand’s soul, a choice that would establish Ducati’s unmistakable presence around the world. From that moment on, red became the brand’s signature colour, a statement of belonging and uniqueness.

The first production motorcycle to definitively adopt Ducati Red was the Ducati Paso, now on display at the Museum in Borgo Panigale. But the Paso was more than just a red motorcycle: it was the first Ducati designed by Massimo Tamburini, the first model created by a true designer. The adoption of Ducati Red was therefore not merely an aesthetic choice, but the sign of a company becoming fully aware of its own identity.

The Paso was revolutionary in many ways: fully faired, with an almost automotive-inspired design, painted plexiglass, indicators integrated into mirrors that were themselves integrated into the fairing, and an unprecedented attention to detail. Red thus became part of a new language: no longer just a colour, but the symbol of a clear and recognisable identity.

Ducati Red has never changed over time. For us, colour is not simply an aesthetic choice, but a statement. Recognition is essential: Ducati is one of the very few brands in the world that can be identified by a single colour, without the need for graphics or logos. A child who sees a red motorcycle says, “That’s a Ducati.” This level of instant recognition is an extraordinary asset, built through consistency and deliberate choices.

To celebrate one hundred years of Borgo Panigale, Ducati created a new interpretation of its most iconic colour: Rosso Centenario.

Developed for the Superleggera V4 Centenario, the GP26 Rosso Centenario livery represents the meeting point between racing heritage and contemporary vision. A red signature inspired by MotoGP’s visual language, designed to span a century of Ducati history while projecting it towards the future of competition.

Produced in an exclusive series of just 500 units, the Superleggera V4 Centenario transforms red into an even stronger expression of identity: not simply a colour, but a symbol of belonging, performance and exclusivity. A visual signature destined to remain truly one of a kind.