Ducati is currently setting the standard in both the MotoGP and Superbike World Championships.. The Italian manufacturer celebrated a perfect season in 2023 by winning both titles, and also the World Supersport Championship. The once dominant Japanese manufacturers no longer have many areas in which they are superior to Borgo Panigale.
However, it is in endurance racing where Ducati has not yet reached the competitiveness of Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. In recent years, Japanese brands have competed for victories in the World Endurance Championship (FIM EWC) and also in its most legendary race, the Suzuka 8 Hours.. And Ducati has never been represented by a factory team.
That could change in the future. At Motorsport.com we have spoken exclusively with Ducati’s technical coordinator, Marco Zambenedetti, about a possible project in Suzuka. The Italian manager is motivated to beat the Japanese at home and thus demonstrate the competitiveness and reliability of the Panigale V4 R.
“Why not?” Zambenedetti responds to the question of whether in the future there will be a participation of Ducati as a factory team in the queen of the EWC.. In the past, Bologna Superbikes have not had the best reputation in terms of durability. But the change from the V2 to the V4 engine has changed the situation.
Making a V2 Superbike durable over long distances comes with a design disadvantage. The stress on the engines and the strong vibrations compared to the smoother-running four-cylinder engines cannot be compensated for even by the most modern technologies. The Panigale V4, which has been used in the World Superbike since 2019, does have a reputation for being reliable. In WSBK, that bike is, in fact, the reference. And the model has already been used in the World Endurance Championship in recent years, achieving some notable successes.
Bautista, with the Panigale in WSBK
“Opinions on the reliability of our motorcycles have changed in recent years,” says Zambenedetti. “Endurance racing is one of the best ways to demonstrate this. We have worked very intensely on our models in recent years, and on materials and technologies. We have the benefits. “Now we are gaining some experience in Japan,” he said, referring to Yukio Kagayama’s participation in the Japanese national championship and in Suzuka.
In the past, big stars from the MotoGP and Superbike World Championships have often been seen racing at Suzuka. Valentino Rossi’s appearances with Honda are legendary. But WSBK stars such as Jonathan Rea, Alex Lowes, Michael van der Mark and Iker Lecuona have also found success recently.
Ducati has a very large pool of riders. The premier class champion, Pecco Bagnaia, and his teammates train regularly with the Panigale. This year, the date of the 8 Hours is unfortunate and clashes with the WSBK round in Most. But if Suzuka doesn’t match MotoGP or Superbikes in the future, then We could see a Ducati dream team with the participation of riders from both championships.
Zambenedetti loves this idea. “I have no influence on it. But it is one of my dreams to see this scenario. And I’m not the only one who thinks like that,” confirms the Italian, indicating that there is interest in Ducati Corse. Because defeating the Japanese on their own territory would be a huge PR success for the Bolognese.
It is worth remembering that, this same year, Johann Zarco will race in the Suzuka 8 Hours. The Frenchman will be in the official Honda team, which in the last two years has had the support of WSBK riders, Iker Lecuona in 2022 and Xavi Vierge in 2023.
