New Ducati Panigale V2: Is the tuned engine better than the restricted version?

Following titles won by Nicolo Bulega (2023) and Adrian Huertas (2024), the balance rule in the Supersport World Championship is now applied in such a way that all of Ducati’s advantages have been eliminated. “We’re getting the most out of these rules and are now only at 70 per cent throttle opening,” explained Philipp Öttl in an interview with SPEEDWEEK.com. “There’s not much power getting through anymore. When Bulega was racing, he had 83 per cent throttle opening; at times he was unbelievably fast on the straights. But none of that’s left now – it’s all gone.”

Twelve riders are competing on a Ducati Panigale V2 in the 2026 Supersport World Championship, some of whom are very strong riders in excellent teams. Yet only five of the 16 races so far have been won on a Ducati: three by Jaume Masia and one each by Öttl and Alessandro Zaccone. Gone are the days when the Bologna-based manufacturer set the benchmark; Yamaha and ZX Moto have now taken on that role. However, this is not down to the Ducati’s fundamental competitiveness, but rather to the current Balance of Performance.

New rules from 2027

A lot will change in 2027, when the power output of today’s Supersport bikes will be reduced from around 145 to 130 PS. Ducati will compete next year with the new Panigale V2, which has been available to buy since 2025. Triumph is launching a Street Triple RS with a new three-cylinder engine displacing 800 instead of the current 765 ccm. And should KTM decide to enter the World Championship with Team Freudenberg, the 990 RC R will line up on the grid with a 947 ccm twin-cylinder engine.

Öttl has so far completed three test sessions with the 2027 Ducati, which produces just 120 PS in its production version: two in April and May at Misano, and one at the end of July in Cremona. “We now have a version that’s pretty much race-ready, with an engine prepared by Ducati that produces around 130 PS, the mandatory MecTronic electronics, the radiator and the fairing,” explained the 30-year-old. “For us, the next step is clear: with the current bike, we had to go from 155 to 145 PS; now we have to go from 120 to 130 PS. In this case, we also need to test components for durability. At the moment, they’ve taken so much power away from us that the motorbike has strange characteristics at lower revs. If we get an engine next year that’s been tuned, it will retain its characteristics.”

The first meeting took place

The fact that Philipp has been given the opportunity to develop the new Panigale V2 for the 2027 Supersport World Championship is a tremendous vote of confidence from Ducati and the Feel Racing team. There are many indications that the partnership will continue – both sides have confirmed their intention to do so. The first meeting took place during the Mugello Grand Prix at the end of May; another is expected to take place at Magny-Cours in early September, following the summer break.

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Their first joint victory was celebrated at Assen this year, and they have secured three further podium finishes since 2025. In the World Championship, Öttl is sixth with 139 points going into the summer break; of the Ducati riders, only Masia (195) is ahead of him in third place.

Philipp Öttl möchte mit Ducati weitermachen

Foto: gold & goose