Taking a break from competing for his third MotoGP title, Ducati Lenovo rider Francesco Bagnaia wins the third Lenovo Race of Champions, held during World Ducati Week at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
A total of 15 Ducati riders took part, riding the new Ducati Panigale V4 S this year. They includes MotoGP riders Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Enea Bastianini, Franco Morbidelli, Jorge Martin, and Alex Martin, alongside World Superbike riders Andrea Iannone, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Alvaro Bautista, Danilo Petrucci and Nicolo Bulega, test rider Michele Pirro, and British Superbike rider Glenn Irwin.
Bagnaia also won the 2022 event, ahead of Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi. Due to the disruption of the global panedemic, the first Ducati race of champions was actually held in 2018, won by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro ahead of Tito Rabat and Xavi Fores.
It’s not often you get to see MotoGP, World Superbike and other riders compete on the same machinery, even if some might have a bit more knowledge of the Misano circuit that others. The bikes had track modifications include the fairing and racing bellypan, Brembo GP4-MotoGP brake calipers and Z04 pads, and a billet top triple clamp personalised with the rider’s name.
World Ducati Week 2024 also broke attendance records, with more than 94,000 people visiting the 12th annual event.
Keep up with all the latest Ducati bikes, customs, classics and more, here. Along with upcoming motorcycle events in the UK and around the world, here. In the past, the Race of Champions bikes have been auctioned after the event, but if you can’t quite afford that, check out the secondhand Panigale V4S examples currently being offered secondhand on eBay.
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Aprilia Pro Experience Includes Coaching With Max Biaggi
Track riding schools can give you a lot of great insights into riding on the road or race circuits. And the Aprilia Pro Experience includes coaching with Max Biaggi, Lorenzo Savadori and Andrea Iannone, along with visits from Aprilia MotoGP riders Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales.
The event takes place on Sunday May 8th, 2022, at the Misano World Circuit. And the Aprilia Pro Experience assigns four riders to each “super coach” with six sessions of 20 minutes on an Aprilia RSV4 Factory, along with briefing and debriefing, analysis of on-board video, lunch, and a dedicated photo shoot.
Aprilia.com. Dates and venues listed throughout the year include Italy, Spain, France and Germany, with one day listed in the UK at Donington Park in July.
Thinking of riding on track this year? Check out our guide to motorcycle track days to prepare yourself and your bike to get the most from the experience.