V4 R: ACCESS ALL AREAS

While expected, the news of Ducati's 2026 V4 R still landed as a welcome shock in our inbox, with the even bigger surprise being an invite to Bologna to get up close and personal with the 998cc V4 powerhouse, engineered to unleash a potential 239hp at 16,000rpm.

- GRACE WEBB

The question was: what kind of witchcraft had been used to make such a mechanical feat possible? The Ducati V4 R engine isn't just a lump of metal with moving parts - it's a beast with character, a heart that defines the bike and sets new standards in the mesmerising world of performance engineering. At least, that's how Ducati's head of vehicle testing described it to me; while pulling the covers on the 2026 Desmosedici Stradale V4 R.

Designed, developed, and assembled in Italy, Ducati is deeply proud of its V4 engine. I learnt this firsthand as I spent the day with the Italian team, where they allowed me to open the doors to some of the most exclusive parts of the Ducati Motor Holdings factory to see how their engines are developed, as well as learn more about the new motor that will be pushed to the limit by World and British Superbike riders next year. Of course, the engine is just one part of the new V4 R's story, but it's arguably the most pivotal component, packed full of pioneering design and unrivalled innovation.

My first thought was that considering things are going quite well for Ducati, why is now the right time to bring out something new? How has it made something that's already the best even better? And I soon realised that Ducati didn't just want to reveal a new V4 R - the team wanted to tell the story and show with pride how it was crafted.