Ducati unveils Superleggera V4 Centenario Tricolore to mark 100 years
Limited to 100 units and packing 228hp, Ducati’s anniversary superbike headlines a wider centenary plan including global events and a new brand manifesto.
Ducati has taken the wraps off a new limited-edition superbike as part of its 100-year celebrations, using a press event at its factory in Borgo Panigale to put the Superleggera V4 Centenario Tricolore front and centre.
Limited to 100 units, the anniversary model is based on Ducati’s lightweight Superleggera platform but adds several changes to mark the occasion. Power is quoted at 228hp, while the bike utilises all the carbon fibre chassis and components as it’s recently announced sibling. It also brings in a carbon-ceramic braking system, something not previously seen on a road-legal Ducati, alongside suspension elements derived from the firm’s MotoGP programme.
Visually, the bike takes its cues from Ducati’s back catalogue, with a livery inspired by the 750 F1 that raced at Daytona in the mid-1980s. The idea is to tie the anniversary machine back to a key period in the company’s racing history, rather than treating it as a standalone special.
The launch of the Superleggera was used as the hook to a wider announcement, with Ducati outlining how it plans to mark its centenary throughout 2026. Alongside the bike, the firm introduced the “Manuale del Made in Italy secondo Ducati” – a document that sets out how it defines its approach to design, engineering and production.
Backed by several Italian institutions, the manual is effectively Ducati putting its own spin on what “Made in Italy” means in a modern manufacturing context. It focuses on the balance between styling, technical development and industrial processes, all of which the brand sees as core to its identity.
Looking beyond the product and the messaging, Ducati has also confirmed a full calendar of events. The first of these is the global #WeRideAsOne ride-out on 9 May, bringing together owners and clubs across multiple countries.
The main gathering, as expected, will be World Ducati Week at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli from July 3 to 5. The event will once again combine track sessions, the vast rideout, displays and access to factory riders, and remains the focal point of the anniversary year - as it does every year.
Track action will include the Lenovo Race of Champions, which this time adopts a more structured format with practice and qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday. Ducati’s MotoGP and World Superbike riders are expected to take part, alongside competitors from other series linked to the brand.
Away from the circuit, Ducati is planning a mix of exhibitions, media projects and riding experiences. These include updates to the museum at Borgo Panigale, a series of travel-focused Expedition Masters tours, plus a podcast and documentary tied to the centenary.
The year will close out at EICMA in November, where Ducati is set to host a dedicated exhibition marking the milestone.
While the wider programme covers everything from heritage to brand storytelling, it’s the Superleggera V4 Centenario Tricolore that sets the tone. A limited-run, high-spec machine built around familiar ingredients, but positioned as a marker of where Ducati sees itself after a century in the game.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
