Ducati reveals new Panigale V2 racing academy
Ducati, together with Michele Pirro and Garage51, has presented a new riding academy for young riders.
Ducati will introduce a new riding academy in 2026, which is aimed at getting young riders into racing, both domestically and internationally.
The new initiative, officially called ‘V2 Future Champ Ducati Academy’, is specifically designed to allow young racers the chance to ride the brand’s Panigale V2 motorcycle, as well as creating a pool of talent going forward.
The new racing academy will kick off in 2026, with the project set to form part of the Italian Championship (CIV), World Ducati Week 2026, and the World Superbike paddock. The format will include traditional sessions like pre-season testing, qualifying, and a double race for each round.
Garage51 is a platform that allows young riders to learn about motorcycles and racing, and is run by Michele Pirro, Ducati’s official MotoGP test rider. Pirro will offer riders from the new Ducati V2 academy technical guidance, with further details about the project to be revealed at next month’s EICMA show, in Milan.
Francesco Milicia, VP Global Sales and After Sales Ducati, said:
“Ducati's history is deeply intertwined with the world of racing, and investing in young riders means building tomorrow's champions today. This is why we are very proud to launch the V2 Future Champ Ducati Academy, a strongly desired project designed to guide new talents from passion to professionalism, offering them all the tools they need to become protagonists in the motorcycle racing world of the future.
“The format was created for those who want to take a challenge and improve, relying on the support of an excellence like Ducati, which has made racing its essence. The key to this journey is Michele, whose commitment to the development of the Desmosedici GP has contributed significantly to Ducati's current results. I would like to thank him not only as a professional but also as a friend: with his experience, technical expertise, and enthusiasm, he will certainly be an inspiration to our young riders.”
Ducati also says the new program is for riders aged under or over 21. You can find out more information about the project on the official Future Champ web page.
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
