Ducati rises to Pikes Peak challenge with prototype Streetfighter V4

IT'S NO SECRET Ducati has racing in its oily blood but it’s latest motorsport challenge really on the harder side of its core.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has attracted numerous iconic cars and bikes over the years, a thrilling ascending route that wends around the mountainside of a Colorado mountain. It’s a test of sheer concentration for the driver and a challenge for engineers as the altitude sucks power and works engines harder... as Ducati knows having enjoyed the madness on an annual basis.

So, what better way for Ducati to showcase its new Streetfighter V4 than in the annual ‘Race to the Clouds’ taking place on June 30.

A bike developed as a ‘Panigale for road riding’, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb is essentially an extreme but entirely appropriate way to demonstrate why this high performance, stripped down Panigale V4 is perfect for more gnarly action than a honed Superbike.

Interestingly, with the road ready Streetfighter V4 still a few months away, this version is classed as a ‘prototype’, with the 1100cc Desmosedici Stradale given a modified aerodynamic profile to unique to this one model. 

“The Streetfighter V4 will be one of the stars of the Ducati World Premiere 2020," declared 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.”

With this appearance rather daringly preluding its official world premiere, the bike – which will be ridden by Carlin Dunne – also sports a special pixelated livery designed to ‘exalt the lines’… and we have to say it looks fantastic enough to make us wonder if we can get such a paint job one in production too.

The Pikes Peak Hill Climb is not for the faint-hearted… check out this video below!