ITALIAN SENSATION

Topping off 2018’s World Ducati Week is the Race of Champions: ten laps of Misano so spectacular the Italian Air Force turns up to watch. Despite race exhaust, livery and slicks, each of the bikes ridden by Lorenzo, Bayliss and others is just a 2018 Ducati Panigale V4S. To demonstrate, all twelve racers peep their horns before race start. Italian Michele Pirro leads from pole to win: his fastest lap is just 3.7s under WSB Panigale pace.