Refining Perfection: The all-new 2025 Ducati Panigale V2

Four-time Philippine Superbike Champion TJ Alberto of Access Plus Racing represented InsideRACING  at the 2025 Ducati Panigale V2 test held in Spain and here’s his first impressions and first ride review of the bike.

TJ Alberto with the Panigale V2

“It’s no secret that I am a big fan of sportbikes, and superbikes in particular. These 1000cc machines were built for one thing: performance. While they are undeniably fast on the road, they become the ultimate weapon on the race track, where you can unleash their full potential. Ducati is no stranger to the world of high-speed performance motorcycles, with its rich history of success racing – from World Superbike to World Supersport, and MotoGP, the pinnacle of two-wheeled motorsport. 

TJ Alberto riding the new Ducati 2025 Panigale V2 in Circuito De Seville, Seville, Spain

In recent years, Ducati has dominated both the WorldSuperbike and MotoGP Championships, securing multiple titles and establishing itself as the benchmark for speed, innovation, and cutting-edge technology. Recently, we have seen a resurgence of Supersport racing. In World Superbike, Ducati made a strong entrance in the middleweight class with the outgoing Panigale V2, and secured back-to-back world championships. Because of this, it only made sense for the italian manufacturer to follow up with an all-new bike – one that suits the racing, but also gives the middleweight Panigale a much-needed refresh.

And that’s exactly what they did.

Enter the new Panigale V2. I was lucky to be one of the first few people to test this bike during an exclusive test last February 14, at the brand-new Circuito de Seville in southern Spain. Now, you might be thinking that this is just an updated version of the outgoing model– but let me tell you, this is an entirely new machine. Everything has been reworked including the chassis, swingarm, engine, and the electronics.

International Press Launch of the new Panigale V2

The biggest change is the new “V2” engine platform that Ducati will be using for all its new middleweight offerings, including the latest Panigale, Streetfighter, and Multistrada models. The new engine features variable intake timing, making the power delivery smoother. With over 70% of its torque available at just 3,000 rpm, it pulls hard out of corners while remaining incredibly manageable at low speeds. This makes for a very torque-y feel for exiting corners and popping wheelies–not like I ever do any!

I was also pleasantly surprised by how smooth the low-rpm response is on this new engine – something the previous model struggled with. The new-twin engine feels incredibly easy to ride, almost reminiscent of a four-cylinder at low revs – how it delivers power down low, yet when you start pushing, it gives that signature V-twin kick.

For me, it was also a nostalgic experience. I started my racing career on a “baby Panigale”, and riding this new V2 felt like coming home, along with the beautiful sound coming from Termignoni exhausts –  except this time, without the issues of the old platform. The new engine is an absolute game-changer.

One of the highlights of the test was seeing the bike completely stripped down into its bare rolling chassis. What immediately stood out to me was just how narrow the frame is and how lean the bike looked with all its fairings removed. The Ducati engineers explained that they have strategically removed materials to improve its much needed flexibility and performance, especially when dealing with bumps and corner transitions – something the old Panigale V2 lacked. 

Another new feature is a double-sided swingarm, a design taken straight from Ducati’s MotoGP program and is now also present on the new Panigale V4 and V4S. The latest electronics package is displayed through a sleek and easy-to-use dashboard, making it simple to adjust the riding modes. It also comes with complete rider aid features, including:

✅ Traction Control
✅ Cornering ABS
✅ Wheelie Control
✅ Engine Brake Strategies
✅ Quick Shift 2.0
✅ Launch Control & Pit Limiter

The Panigale V2 isn’t just a fast bike – it’s intelligent too! It has the perfect features for a track toy.

Ducati has also reworked the riding position, a balance between aggressive track ergonomics  and all-day street comfort that’s perfect for all around use on the road and the track. 

It’s slightly more relaxed than before, making it easier for long rides without sacrificing the control needed for track riding. Ducati even offers a specific riding position kit with sportier handlebars and rear sets. They even mentioned during the test that we would be surprised with the new riding position, but even the top riders didn’t feel the need to change it. 

The new riding position is a perfect balance between sporty performance and everyday comfort on the road – definitely a winner in my book!

The Sevilla circuit had it all – tight sections, fast sections, long straights, and everything that you could expect. It was an interesting challenge, but it was also the perfect venue to explore the capabilities of the new Panigale V2. 

Ducati claims this is the lightest Panigale ever, and I could feel it from the moment I rolled out of the pits. Weighing in at only 169kg, it felt more like riding my mountain bike rather than my Panigale V4R. At low speeds, the bike was easy to maneuver, thanks to its good clutch feel and precise steering. When going at high speed, it remained stable through corners. Through the tighter sections of the track, it felt effortless to change direction, and the bike always held its line.

In the end, I couldn’t really find the limits of the bike thanks to the ultra-grippy World Supersport-spec Pirelli slick tires it was equipped with. By the end of the day, it almost felt surreal how fast we could push through corners with this setup.

Ducati test rider Alessandro Valia was present to guide us around the track, and he also provided feedback on properly setting the bike. We started with the standard “S” suspension setup before trying a more track-oriented configuration. The Öhlins-equipped bike offered a wide range of adjustability, making it easy to transform it from a high-performance street bike into a track weapon.

After spending the day riding the all-new Panigale V2, I can say that Ducati has taken an already great bike and made it even better. It’s lighter, faster, and more refined – making it the perfect machine for riders who want an easy-to-ride yet high performance sportbike for both the street and the track.

I’m already planning to add one to my garage – not just for training, but for riding up the mountains and even as a daily city ride. I can’t wait for riders to experience it themselves!”

photos from TJ Alberto and Ducati