CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF DUCATI’S MOST SUCCESSFUL RACER: THE PANIGALE V4 916

Fairly obviously the Panigale V4 25° Anniversario 916 celebrates the Ducati 916’s 25th anniversary, which unless you have been living under a rock for the last quarter of a century you will know is a pretty special bike to the firm. Launched in 1994, the 916 made its name on the race track and is Ducati’s most successful racer ever, taking 120 WSB race wins, eight constructors’ titles and six riders’ titles (in 916, 996 and 998 guises) before it was replaced by the 999 in 2003. And who was the most successful rider? ‘King’ Carl Fogarty, who took 43 race wins on a 916 (to go with his 12 already achieved on a 888) and four WSB titles. So that’s why the Anniversario gets a ‘Foggy eye’ sticker, a big number one on its fairing and a chap from Blackburn standing next to it in pictures.