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WORDS SIR ALAN OF DOWDS
DUCATI TRICOLORE ITALIA
They do like a ‘limited-edition special’ at the Ducati factory–and we like ‘em too. This is the Panigale V4 S TricoloreItalia, unveiled at the Italian ‘Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy’ by Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali and Ducati racing guru Gigi Dall’Igna, alongside the government minister Adolfo Urso. And it’s a cracker.
Limited to just 163 bikes, the paint scheme is a replica of the factory bike raced at Mugello last season, the ‘Azzuri’ blue celebrating the Italian national sports teams. The team scored a one-two on the podium at that race, and the 163 number refers to Pecco Bagnais’s‘1’ position and ’63’ race number. A little clumsy, we say, but there we go. They’re essentially all sold out now anyway, apparently.