DUCATI love the pomp and ceremony of a live-streamed motorcycle model range launch, in fact, short of the actual riding launches, it’s almost the highlight of the company’s PR calendar and takes place on the 23rd October.
And 2020’s new model unveiling is going to be no different, with Ducati pulling the wraps off their new metal at a star-studded ceremony which will be live-streamed on social media and the official Ducati website for all to digest. But what will be getting unveiled?
First off, the teaser image of a bike draped in cloth is a Monster of some sort, the oil cooler hanging below the cover, distinctive double exhaust and gold wheels are the give away that it’s a 1200 version of the machine. Nothing too ground-breaking there and in truth, we thought one of the flagship models might have been the lead teaser for the event, but it looks like Ducati are keeping their powder dry on that front!
Probably the biggest new bike of the launch will be the new Streetfighter V4, based around the engine, suspension and frame of the Panigale V4S albeit with fairings removed and flat bars fitted. The bike had a tumultuous beginning, after much loved Pikes Peak racer Carlin Dunne crashed earlier this year, we’d expect a tribute to the racer to feature heavily when the Streetfighter gets unveiled.
The next eagerly awaited machine is the new V4 iteration of Ducati’s already capable Multistrada. We’ve seen the bike being tested in some shaky iPhone shots already this week, so the chances are it’s being pushed through its paces in prep for the press riding launch and official unveiling later this year.
Another machine that’s been undergoing a 2020 style update is the smaller Panigale 959, which has received a rebrand and redesign, bringing its styling inline with that of the V4 range of superbikes. From the spy shots that have done the rounds on social media, the new machine looks basically the same as the new V4, with the exhaust and engine cover setup of the older V-twin Panigale range being the only defining factor.
Alongside those models, the unveiling is also sure to include some special addition versions of already available machines, Monster is a safe bet after the teaser of the bike was used. It’s also fair to assume that the impending Euro5 regs will have some sort of shake-up of the model lines, with engines being picked out of one model line and switched to another, all for the sake of saving polar bears while still delivering thrills. For confirmation of those, I guess we will wait and see…
