2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4 Prototype to Race Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Ducati confirmed a naked version of the Panigale V4 is on the way for 2020, announcing a prototype of the Streetfighter V4 will be entered in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb later this month. Carlin Dunne, who previously won the PPIHC motorcycle class on a Multistrada, will be riding the Ducati Streetfighter V4 prototype in the June 30 race.
The Streetfighter will be powered by the same 1103cc V4 engine as the Panigale V4. The prototype is equipped with an Akrapovic exhaust system with twin silencers asymmetrically mounted low to either side of the bike, but the production model will likely have a completely different set-up.
Early versions of the Streetfighter V4 were spotted in May undergoing testing in preparation for Pikes Peak. MO‘s own Troy Siahaan snapped the photo above of one of the test bikes. This early model still sported part of the Panigale V4’s inner fairing but was fitted with the finished prototype’s exhaust system.
Ducati didn’t reveal any details about the chassis, but a visual comparison to a Panigale V4 sans bodywork (pictured above) shows the two bikes share much in common. The frame, wheels and suspension all look similar, as do the seat and fuel tank. The handlebar is different, with the Streetfighter’s grips sitting higher and wider, offering a more upright position than the Panigale’s clip-ons provide. The regulations for Pikes Peak prohibit clip-ons, with only one-piece bars allowed for competition, but we expect this handlebar to remain on the production model.
The big difference, of course, is the bodywork. Without the Panigale’s fairing, the V4 engine is in display on the Streetfighter V4. Ducati did leave a chin spoiler and radiator covers, plus some aerodynamic winglets specifically designed for the prototype.
Ducati confirmed the production version of the Streetfighter V4 will be presented at EICMA in November, before arriving in showrooms in mid-March 2020.
“The Streetfighter V4 will be one of the stars of the Ducati World Premiere 2020,” says Claudio Domenicali, chief executive officer 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.”
Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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Has anyone attended this event? I'm wondering if it's spectator friendly or can you only see one turn?
It might be fun to check out.
Can somebody explain why Ducati enters Streetfighters and Multistradas in Pikes Peak and not the Panigale? Obviously they've had great success lately, so they are making the right choice, but I don't see how a Multi would be faster than a Pani.