First Ducati Superleggera V4 delivered

• First Superleggera V4 delivered in the Ducati factory 

• Production of the Ducati Superleggera V4 is limited to 500 units, worldwide

• 998cc V4 engine produces 224hp in street-legal trim

Ducati delivered the first unit of the limited-edition Superleggera V4 superbike at its factory in Borgo Panigale, Italy. Bike number 001/500 was delivered to Filip Van Schil, a Belgian national, by Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali. The event marked the beginning of the deliveries of Ducati's new high performance V4 superbike that comes with some special goodies, which we'll get to later.

As part of the delivery process, Filip was given a guided tour of the Ducati factory, where he interacted with the team that builds the Superleggera V4. This was followed by a tour of the Ducati museum, Centro Stile Ducati and the Ducati racing department. He also received a copy of the book, Stile Ducati, bearing the date of delivery to mark the occasion.

Filip has owned nine Ducati motorcycles in the past and the new Superleggera V4 is understandably the most special yet. "When I received the call and the official invitation to come to Borgo Panigale to collect my Superleggera V4, the number 001 of 500, although I have always been a Ducatista, my legs trembled with emotion," said Filip Van Schil. 

The Ducati Superleggera V4 takes the Ducati V4 experience to a whole new level, with a focus on reducing weight and, hence, improving performance. Which is why the Superleggera V4 has a carbon-fibre fairing, wheels, swingarm, frame and subframe. The Superleggera V4 tips the scales at 159kg (dry), which is 11kg lighter than the Panigale V4. Ducati will also supply a track-only, titanium Akrapovic exhaust that reduces the weight further to 152.2kg, while bumping up the power-to-weight ratio to 1.54hp/kg.

The Superleggera V4 is powered by a 998cc engine that develops 224hp in the street-legal trim. Fitting the Akrapovic track exhaust liberates an additional 10hp, taking the total output to 234hp! You can read more about the Superleggera V4 here.

A special motorcycle also means owners get special memorabilia in the form of a sculptural reproduction of the Superleggera V4; the scale model features the same serial number as on the actual motorcycle. Owners also get their Superleggera V4 delivered in a wooden crate, with a certificate of authenticity included.

That's not all. Buying the Superleggera V4 gives owners the chance to experience the Panigale V4 R as part of the 'Superbike Experience'. Besides this, 30 owners will get an opportunity to Desmosedici GP machine under the guidance of the Ducati Corse staff.