Ducati Panigale V4 S: Performance Bike of the Year - autoX Awards 2025

If you want a ludicrously fast superbike that you can actually ride every day, the BMW S1000RR is the obvious choice. But if your goal is to obliterate a racetrack, as you watch the S1000RR and everything else disappear in your rearview mirror, only one machine fits the bill – the Ducati Panigale V4 S. In this year’s track test, the Panigale wasn’t just a superbike – it felt like a weapon. Fast, ferocious, and utterly precise, it commanded attention the instant it hit the track. The jury unanimously agreed that while the BMW is built for speed, the Ducati is built for domination.

The Panigale V4 S set a blisteringly fast lap time of 1:02.2 – the fastest of any vehicle we tested – earning a perfect 5/5 in performance and claiming the title of 'Performance Bike of the Year'.

At the heart of this monster is the 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine, which earned the bike a perfect 10/10 for the drivetrain. Our test bike, equipped with a full Akrapovic titanium race exhaust, was rated for a staggering 228bhp. But power is only one side of the coin; the other side is control. The previous Panigale was fast, but it demanded skill and commitment. This new-generation Panigale, however, has been tamed, thanks to its witchcraft-like electronics suite. The DVO (Ducati’s Vehicle Observer) is pure black magic – it manages wheelie control, traction, and power delivery with surgical precision. The result is a bike that seems to have two personalities – approachable and manageable in Sport mode, and an all-out race missile in Race mode.

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The Panigale’s dual personality is well complemented by its chassis and components. The all-new frame, counter-rotating crankshaft, and refined ergonomics make it lighter, more agile, and incredibly flickable. The seat and redesigned tank now provide more room to move, making the bike feel less intimidating. The real standout, however, is the Öhlins semi-active suspension. Intelligent and adaptive, it stiffens the forks for aggressive braking while approaching a corner, and then adjusts the rear to ensure maximum traction on the exit. This is what makes the bike’s mid-corner stability flawless, allowing the rider to open the throttle with complete confidence.

And then, there are the brakes. The Brembo race-spec callipers offer unparalleled control and feedback. At nearly 300km/h on the back straight of the BIC, most bikes can be terrifying – but on the Panigale, you can brake past the 150-meter mark with absolute confidence.

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Of course, excellence comes at a cost. The Panigale V4 S is eye-wateringly expensive – no wonder, then, that it scored just 5/20 for value. Its 228 bhp V4 heats up quickly, which severely affected its comfort and practicality score. But this bike wasn’t built for practicality. It was built to annihilate a racetrack. And that it does, unlike any other. The Panigale V4 S is a ‘Best of 2025’ winner not just because it’s fast, but because it sets a new benchmark. It’s a machine that delivers absolute control, confidence, and performance at levels that you never thought were possible.