2025 Ducati Panigale V4: Ride Experience At Chang International Circuit

Red is more than just a colour in the motorcycle world.  I have been lucky to experience countless Ducati motorcycles over the years, but for some reason, the Panigale has always been out of reach. I guess that was for a good reason, like saving the best for last. And the icing on the cake was finding out I wouldn't just be riding one on the road but at a race track, which is exactly what this motorcycle was engineered for. This ride experience was part of DRE (Ducati Riding Experience), which is Ducati’s version of a riding school.

The 2025 Panigale V4

Heading out on track on a litre-class bike for the first time was a humbling experience, but on the 2025 Panigale, it was just for the first lap. As soon as you understand how much control and grip it has, you immediately feel faster and can push without worrying. This generation has received major updates, a design overhaul and it is said to be the easiest one to ride. I guess that claim is surely true after spending a few sessions with it. 

The new design of the Panigale V4 has been upgraded with a double-sided swingarm and the new fairing is not as sharp as the previous iteration. It has its own character and the styling started to grow on me as they were all lined up looking pretty in the pitlane. 

The acceleration is brutal, yet finely controllable. You feel the surge of the crazy power and torque, but it’s not overwhelming. Instead, the power delivery is linear, refined, and intuitive. This latest Panigale may be the most powerful yet, but Ducati has also made it the most rideable. Whether you’re a seasoned racer or an enthusiast with limited track time, this bike can speak your language. 

What really blew me away was the confidence this bike inspires mid-corner. The Pirelli Supercross V4 tyres offer phenomenal grip which allowed me to brake hard, tip it in, and get on the gas earlier than expected. And it felt more comfortable with every passing lap. There were moments when I thought I was braking too late, only to realize I could’ve braked even later. That’s how precise and confidence-inspiring the braking system is. It stops exactly when you need it to in the most stable way possible.

Electronics have been an area where Ducati excels and on the Panigale V4, they're more like invisible hands—guiding you, saving you, and letting you explore the edge without falling off it.

The new TFT display is larger and displays a ton of information. It can be set up with a bunch of variations and is user-friendly once you get the hang of it. Traction control, wheelie control, engine braking, and cornering ABS—all of it works in harmony to keep the experience smooth and thrilling. You don’t notice them, and that’s the best part. 

The DRE Learning Curve

This ride was part of Ducati’s DRE (Ducati Riding Experience) program, where Ducati owners get to learn from Ducati’s best riders. My batch was being led by Alessandro Valia, who is the official test rider for Ducati. Following him around the circuit gave us a better understanding of the lines and braking points, which helped me a lot considering I was riding there for the first time. The experience wasn’t just about riding fast—it was about riding better and safer.

By the end of the third session, I felt really comfortable pushing harder, braking deeper, and flowing through corners with more confidence than I ever had on the track. It really is incredible how Ducati has made 220-odd horsepower feel so usable and so natural.

The Ducati Panigale V4 is more than a superbike. It’s a teacher, a motivator, and an adrenaline shot all wrapped into one. If you ever get the chance to ride one—especially on track—do it. It may just change how you look at modern-day performance motorcycles forever.