Rennie Scaysbrook | December 20, 2021
Ducati has used a private test session at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli to debut their all-new MotoE racer.
The company will take over the MotoE series as the official machine supplier in 2023, with Michele Pirro given the shakedown duties of a machine that looks ready to race, even at this early stage.
Laced with carbon fiber, and the usual Ducati fodder of Ohlins suspension, Marchesini wheels, and Brembo brakes, the V21L also sports a double-sided swingarm, differentiating it from something like the single-sided Panigale V4 R used in WorldSBK.
The details on the machine are extremely sparse, with just a few quotes below to go by. However, we can expect more as the machine gets further refined during the 2022 season.
“We are experiencing a truly extraordinary moment,” said Roberto Canè, Ducati eMobility Director. “I find it hard to believe it is reality and still not a dream! The first electric Ducati on the track is exceptional not only for its uniqueness but also for the type of undertaking: challenging both for its performance objectives and for its extremely short timescales. Precisely for this reason, the work of the whole team dedicated to the project has been incredible and today’s result repays us for the efforts made in recent months. We are certainly not finished yet; indeed, we know that the road ahead is still very long, but in the meantime, we have laid a first important ‘brick’.”
Test rider Pirro also provided some information.
“Testing the MotoE prototype on the circuit was a great thrill, because it marks the beginning of an important chapter in Ducati history,” he said. “The bike is light and already has a good balance. Furthermore, the throttle connection in the first opening phase and the ergonomics are very similar to those of a MotoGP bike. If it weren’t for the silence and for the fact that in this test, we decided to limit the power output to just 70% of performance, I could easily have imagined that I was riding my bike.”
No doubt there’s a touch of over-enthusiasm there, but we have to agree this new Ducati looks very special indeed. We can’t wait to see it in proper action come 2023!
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