Michael Dunlop confirms plans to race a Ducati Panigale V4 R at 2026 Isle of Man TT
Michael Dunlop has added the Ducati Panigale V4 R to the list of bikes he will race in 2026.
Set to race the Ducati Panigale V2 at the 2026 Isle of Man TT, Michael Dunlop has now added the Panigale V4 R to his plans in the 1,000cc classes.
You might like to read our 2025 Ducati Panigale V2 review.
Dunlop has raced numerous bikes over the years, but last year in the 1,000cc classes he switched to BMW for the first time since 2016.
Dunlop enjoyed success with that package, winning Superbike and Superstock races at the North West 200. However, Dunlop failed to win a 1,000cc race at the Isle of Man TT.
Davey Todd won the only superbike race at the 2025 TT, after the Senior TT race was cancelled due to poor weather. In the Superstock class, it was Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison who won both races.
All this means Dunlop was looking for different machinery as he looks to add more wins to his current record-holding tally of 33 at the TT, leading him to Ducati’s new Panigale V4 R.
Dunlop won two races at the 2025 TT, both of which came aboard the Panigale V2 in the Supersport class. Dunlop confirmed his intention to race the V4 R alongside his V2 on social media.
Dunlop’s victories at the 2025 TT were Ducati’s first at the event since 1995, however, the Italian company is still without a ‘big bike’ win. But if there’s one rider that’s best placed to change that, it’s most likely to be Dunlop, given his tremendous record at the TT riding a multitude of brands' bikes.
The Panigale V4 R has undergone numerous changes for 2026, most notably a new double-sided swingarm and an updated aerodynamics package, as well as other changes to chassis characteristics and engine behaviour.
The updated Panigale V4 R has so far won every World Superbike race in 2026, ahead of making its BSB debut on 2-4 May at Oulton Park.
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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.
