Those ostentatious Italians just couldn't wait until Ducati World Premiere 2020 to unveil their sexy new Streetfighter V4 prototype, so they are going to release it in anger during the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 30, 2019. Longtime Ducati hill climb specialist Carlin Dunne will pilot the motorcycle as he attempts to win the race on a purpose-built streetbike once again.
The Streetfighter V4 is the successor to Ducati’s original L-twin-powered and 1098 Superbike-based Streetfighter naked bike that was released for the 2010 model year.
PPIHC rules dictate that competition motorcycles are equipped with a one-piece handlebar (versus sportbike-style clip-ons), therefore competing in the Race to the Clouds is an important part of the Streetfighter V4 development, says Ducati.
Official technical specifications are limited at this point, but the Italian company has shared these wonderful images of the bike in action plus a couple of studio shots.
But based on our experience with Ducati’s rip-roaring Panigale V4, this new Streetfighter will likely be one of the most powerful open-class naked bikes we’ve ever seen. Since its designed around the sensational Panigale and its 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale engine we see no reason to doubt that claim.
“The Streetfighter V4 will be one of the stars of the Ducati World Premiere 2020,” said Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati. “Streetfighter V4 is the Panigale for road riding, so there was no better stage than the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for what will be the highest performance Streetfighter ever put into production.”