For the twelfth consecutive year, Aruba will be alongside Ducati, managing the official Superbike team and confirming the deep sporting and industrial bond that unites on-track performance, technological research and long-term vision.
Over 200 guests and institutional representatives were treated to an exclusive first glimpse of the new Ducati Panigale V4 R machines. Dressed in the official 2026 liveries with which they will contest the championship this year, the bikes were unveiled in the spectacular setting of the Aruba Auditorium during a dinner event hosted by Sky Sport MotoGP’s Vera Spadini and Rosario Triolo.
After the honours of the house, Stefano Cecconi (CEO of Aruba and Team Principal of Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) briefly reviewed the Aruba teams’ 2025 WorldSBK and MotoE seasons before kicking off the official presentation. Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, then took to the stage highlighting the special nature of this season, which coincides with Ducati’s Centenary.
During his speech, Domenicali unveiled the new Ducati Panigale V4 R to the public, which interprets this historic anniversary from an aesthetic point of view, thanks to its graphics featuring the new matte Rosso Centenario colour and the double white stripe. The chosen shade of red is the same used in 1949 for the Ducati 60, the first complete Ducati bike that marked the Company’s entry into the motorcycle manufacturing world, and later for the 1955 Gran Sport Marianna, the first Ducati specifically designed for racing by engineer Fabio Taglioni. At the end, Domenicali underlined the strategic value of the Superbike project for Ducati and the importance of the sporting and technological partnership with Aruba.it.
Serafino Foti (Team Manager Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) talked about the role of the team manager not only during race weekends but also in complex situations such as the tests in Jerez and Portimão, which were heavily affected by the weather, while Luigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse, sent a video message from Malaysia – where the Ducati Lenovo MotoGP team is currently testing – to wish the team good luck and reminding them how crucial it is to grow race after race in order to achieve the most important result. Mauro Grassilli (Ducati Corse Sporting Director) then took to the stage, emphasising the dedication with which the Borgo Panigale manufacturer works, with equal passion, on both the MotoGP and Superbike projects, as well as the deep bond that has always united him with the historic category of production-based machines. Finally, Marco Zambenedetti, SBK Project Manager at Ducati Corse, highlighted the development work that gave rise to the Panigale V4 R 2026, the result of a continuous exchange of experience and know-how between MotoGP and Superbike.
The most eagerly awaited moment was the unveiling of the Ducati Panigale V4 R bikes of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, entrusted to Nicolò Bulega and Iker Lecuona, who then spent time with guests for photos, autographs and questions.
It was an evening that combined sporting excitement with a culture of innovation, reinforcing a clear message: from the racetrack to the data centre and beyond, Aruba and Ducati continue to race together, pushing beyond new limits.
Stefano Cecconi (Team Principal, Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“We are embarking on this new challenge knowing that we gave it our all right up to the last corner of 2025 and fully aware that the season about to begin will be a tough test. The bar has been raised, as have expectations, but that is precisely what motivates us to work even harder. Unfortunately, the weather conditions during testing limited our time on the track and prevented us from fully discovering and understanding all the qualities of the new Panigale V4R. However, I am confident we will complete the planned programme during official testing in Australia and be ready for the first weekend. I have great confidence in our riders: Nicolò Bulega has already shown that he has what it takes to win the title, Iker Lecuona arrives with a wealth of experience, despite being only 26 years old, and I am sure he will prove his worth as soon as possible. Good luck to the whole team, we can’t wait to turn all our hard work into results and give all Ducatisti something to cheer about.”
Claudio Domenicali (CEO Ducati Motor Holding)
“This is our Centenary year, a long and exciting journey that in 1988 crossed paths with the birth of the Superbike World Championship, where Ducati has been a protagonist since the very first edition. A fundamental chapter in our history which, with 21 Manufacturers’ titles and 16 Riders’ titles won over 38 seasons, sees us today as the most successful manufacturer in the category. Superbike is the championship of our most advanced supersport motorcycles, developed season after season thanks to the experience gained on track. The new Panigale V4 R embodies this journey: it integrates solutions developed together with Ducati Corse – from the Ducati Vehicle Observer to the Corner Sidepods, from the new electronic strategies to the Ducati Racing Gearbox – to be even more competitive in the World Championship and allow Ducatisti to experience the thrill of being real riders. To celebrate 100 years of history, the bikes feature the Rosso Centenario livery, the same celebratory colour also used in MotoGP. In this journey, Aruba plays an essential role: a partnership that has grown over 12 years thanks to the vision of Stefano Cecconi, a professional passionate about motorcycling, and which today represents a key reference point for our sporting project. We approach this highly significant season with the ambition of confirming ourselves as protagonists and continuing to build a story of which we are deeply proud.”
Luigi Dall’Igna (General Manager Ducati Corse)
“In 2026, a new chapter will begin for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, with a clear ambition: to fight to the end for the world riders’ title and bring it back to Borgo Panigale. This is our mission: we know how challenging it will be and how strong our rivals are, but we also know what it takes to be protagonists, and we have already proven it. We will do so with high expectations, thanks in part to the debut of the new Panigale V4 R, an important step in our growth and competitiveness. We have every confidence in Nicolò Bulega: in recent years, he has shown talent, consistency, and maturity, finishing as runner-up twice in Superbike, always fighting until the last round. We are confident that he has what it takes to take the decisive step. At his side is Iker Lecuona: taking over from Alvaro Bautista, who remains in the Ducati Corse family, will be a challenging task, but we have no doubt about his qualities and talent. Finally, I would like to highlight the achievements of last year in the Team and Manufacturers’ World Championships: we are starting again from there, with the same determination, with the desire to experience another exciting season and with the goal of adding a third title.”
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11)
“I’m really happy to start the season: we’re finally back. The winter has been very long. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t help us during testing, so I can’t wait to be in Australia and quickly find the right feeling with the team. But I’m convinced that it won’t take long. I’m very motivated and confident that it will be a great season. Last year, we fought for the title until the last race. We have to try to put everything together to try to win the championship.”
Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7)
“I am very happy to be part of this team: the best team with the best bike. It is undoubtedly the biggest opportunity in my career so far, and for this I want to thank my family, my wife, my friends, my manager and, of course, Aruba Racing and Ducati for believing in me. Let’s see what we can do during the season, how we can improve day after day. The goal is clear: to put ourselves in a position to fight for the title and try to win it.”
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