The Panigale V4 S is ready to be officially launched in China and it makes the best entrance possible in this crucial market by winning the Pan Delta Racing Series championship.

Alessandro Valia, official Ducati Test Rider, riding a production motorcycle accessorized with Ducati Performance parts, racing against internationally renowned WSBK-spec bikes and riders, managed to mathematically win the Pan Delta Racing Series championship despite a DFN in Race 1 and Race 2 being cancelled due to a typhoon approaching the southern part of China.

Valia kept improving his lap time during the week and achieved pole position on the starting grid of Zhuhai International Circuit with a lap time of 1:34:41, 0.1 seconds faster than his own previous pole position. Alessandro did not finish race 1 due to bad luck. Half way through the race in fact, the Panigale V4 suffered a flat tire that forced the Italian rider to head back to the pit. Despite this episode, Alessandro and CER – Ducati Hong Kong racing team, obtained the first Pan Delta title in the history of Ducati.

The motorcycle entered in the Chinese Superbike competition (closely followed by the public and the media) is a stock Panigale V4 S accessorized with Ducati Performance parts, challenging motorcycles specially configured with the technical specifications allowed by WSBK regulations. The "Pan Delta Series" is divided into two classes of competition: the "Open A", where there are no restrictions in terms of modifications, and the "Open B" class, in which only stock bikes can participate. Ducati decided to enter the Panigale V4 S in the Open A class to prove its racing capability. 

Alessandro Valia (CER – Ducati Hong Kong racing team, #8) – 1st in Race 1 and 2:

“I am extremely proud of being the rider winning the Pan Delta Racing Series championship for the first time in Ducati’s history. This result marks an important step for Ducati in China, a market where I feel the passion for our brand growing race after race. I can’t wait to be in Ningbo to be part of the Panigale V4 China Launch and DRE but, before that, I want to thank every person that made this result possible: my team, the CER – Ducati Hong Kong Racing team, Ducati China and Pirelli for always providing a great support.”

Fabrizio Cazzoli (Head of Ducati China):

“Just few days before officially launching the new Ducati Panigale V4 in China, I cannot think of any better way to present this amazing machine to our market. Once again, Ducati has achieved an amazing result to be kept among all other international trophies, but I feel that this represents a special one as it is the first one achieved here in China, a market in which Ducati strongly believes and is investing a lot. This result could not be achieved without all the amazing people that have worked on it, therefore I want to thank Alessandro Valia, the CER Ducati Hong Kong racing team, and Pirelli China that have always provided the best support. It is time now to head to Ningbo for the Panigale V4 China press launch and DRE.”

This great result confirms once again the fruitfulness of Ducati’s integration between its racing and R&D departments that enables the Borgo Panigale-based company to always deliver most performing superbikes available in the market.