Nicolò, you’re the Superbike World Champion! How does it feel to see your name written into the history of such an extraordinary season?

“It’s an amazing feeling. We’d been working towards this for a few years. We came close last year, but this year we won by a huge margin. It’s been incredible, a dream come true. Even now, I find it hard to put into words. Seeing my name associated with such great achievements fills me with pride. I’m happy to have become part of Ducati’s history.”

You claimed the title in your third year in Superbike, following a journey of constant progress. How has your relationship with the Panigale V4 R evolved over this time?

“We’ve made huge progress since I joined Superbike. In my first year, the bike was already very competitive, but it was better suited to smaller riders like Bautista. The team put a lot of trust in me and adapted the bike to taller riders like myself. The contribution we made to each other’s progress was really important. The trust they placed in me helped us a lot.”

An all-Italian triumph in Cremona, just over an hour from your home. What does it mean to win the World Championship so close to your roots in Emilia-Romagna, in Ducati’s centenary year, a brand that shares those same roots?

“I remember when I was a kid, walking around the Superbike paddock right here in Cremona, watching the great champions like Haga, Corser, Bayliss and Edwards, all riders who inspired me. And now, twenty years later, I’m the Superbike World Champion, in this very same paddock. It’s incredible to think about.

Winning here in Italy meant a lot to me, because it makes it even more special. I won the title in front of the entire Aruba team, the people from Ducati, my family, my friends, the amazing fans and all the people who care about me and came to support me. It made the whole experience even more special.”

Looking back on this championship-winning season, what have you gained beyond race victories? What will you take away from it, both as a rider and as a person?

“I think I’ve grown a lot as a person over the past few years. To be fast on a bike and achieve good results at the highest level, you first need to mature as a person. Otherwise, it’s difficult to handle everything: the pressure, the emotions. I’ve been through some dark times when I hit rock bottom, and those were actually the moments that helped me grow the most.

I surrounded myself with people who believed in me and helped me bring out the potential I had inside but hadn’t yet managed to fulfil. More than any result, that’s what I’ll take away from this season.”

The next step is MotoGP™. Just hours after winning the title, how do you feel about leaving Superbike as World Champion to take on a completely new challenge?

“It will be a new challenge, but I’m happy to have this opportunity with Ducati and VR46. I’ll have everything I need to do well, and I’ll give it my all to make sure I’m ready. It was important to me to make the move to MotoGP™ with Ducati. Even though the bike is different, staying within the Ducati family is an advantage and a great opportunity. I also like the idea of continuity. We won the Supersport title, then the Superbike title, and now I’m moving up to MotoGP™ with Ducati once again. I can’t wait.”