Ducati dreams of going to the Suzuki 8 Hours with MotoGP and WSBK riders

Ducati is currently setting the standard in both the MotoGP World Championship and the World Superbike Championship.. The Italian manufacturer celebrated a perfect 2023 season by winning both titles as well as the World Supersport Championship. The once dominant Japanese manufacturers no longer have many of the areas in which they were superior to Borgo Panigale.

However, it is in endurance racing that Ducati has not yet achieved the competitiveness of Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. In recent years, Japanese brands have competed for victories in the World Endurance Championship (FIM EWC), as well as in the most legendary race, the Suzuka 8 Hours.. And Ducati has never been represented by a factory team.

This may change in the future. At Motorsport.com we spoke exclusively with Ducati’s technical coordinator. Marco Zambenedetti, about a possible project in Suzuka. The Italian manager is interested in beating the Japanese at home and thus demonstrating the competitiveness and reliability of the Panigale V4 R.

“Why not?” says Zambenedetti when asked if there will be Ducati participation as a factory team in the EWC queen in the future.. In the past, Bologna superbikes have not had the best reputation in terms of durability. But switching from a V2 engine to a V4 engine changed the situation.

Ensuring the V2 superbike’s long-distance durability comes with a design flaw. Engine stress and vibrations compared to smoother four-cylinder engines cannot be compensated for by even the latest technology. The Panigale V4, which has been used in World Superbike since 2019, does have a reputation for reliability. In WSBK this bike is actually the benchmark.. This model has already been used in the World Endurance Championship in recent years, achieving notable success.

Bautista with Panigale in WSBK

“Opinions about the reliability of our motorcycles have changed in recent years,” says Zambenedetti. “Endurance racing is one of the best ways to demonstrate this. In recent years we have worked very intensively on our models, materials and technologies. We have advantages. We are now gaining some experience in Japan,” he said, referring to Yukio Kagayama’s participation in the Japanese national championship and Suzuka.

In the past, stars from the MotoGP and Superbike world championships could often be seen at Suzuka. Valentino Rossi’s performances with Honda are legendary.. But WSBK stars such as Jonathan Rea, Alex Laws, Michael van der Mark and Iker Lecuona have also enjoyed recent success.

Ducati has a very large circle of riders. Top class champion Pecco Bagnaia and his teammates train regularly on Panigale.. This year the date for the 8 Hours is unfortunate and coincides with the WSBK Tour in Most. But if Suzuka can’t match MotoGP or Superbikes in the future, then We saw the Ducati dream team with riders from both championships.

Zambenedetti likes this idea. “I have no influence on this. But seeing this script is one of my dreams. And I’m not the only one who thinks so,” confirms the Italian, indicating that there is interest in Ducati Corse.. Because defeating the Japanese on their own territory would be a huge PR success for the Bolognese.

Let us remind you that in the same year Johann Zarco will take part in the Suzuki 8 Hours. The Frenchman will be in the official Honda team, which has been supported by WSBK riders in the last two years, Iker Lecuona in 2022 and Xavi Vierge in 2023.