Ducati Panigale V4 R is a ‘proper weapon’ – Christian Iddon

Christian Iddon says he cannot wait to get to the opening round of the 2020 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Silverstone after getting his first proper taste of the VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4 R he will ride this season.

The experienced racer swaps from Tyco BMW to the title-defending Paul Bird Motorsport-run team for 2020 alongside Josh Brookes and got a chance to ride the V4 machine for the first time properly at Monteblanco.

Though yet to win a race in BSB after several seasons of trying, Iddon is considered a front-runner in the series and has often seen strong results hampered by untimely injuries. For 2020 though, he feels his breakthrough is coming.

“I felt really good on the first day at Jerez and the bike felt much more like my own, and that was the first time I really felt like I had gelled with the Ducati. That was a really positive day; I wasn’t super-fast but I was more than content with our pace on old tyres, which is really good.

“We didn’t go for a time attack, although I didn’t quite feel ready for one anyway, so actually the timesheets it doesn’t look as good as what it should, but I think we are better off than what it shows on paper.

“The last day was a bit hit and miss with the weather and I wasn’t doing the last session anyway, but I am already looking forward to getting back out on the bike at Silverstone for the test; it is a proper weapon and I am really looking forward to unlocking the full potential of what it is capable of.”