Zambenedetti: "The new 2026 Panigale is all new, it’s a bike that has been fully, deeply revised in every area"
Both the Spanish rider accompanying Nicolo Bulega and the bike they both ride in 2026 will be new one as the #7 dons the red leathers, and they each take a seat atop the new 2026 Panigale
It’s new factory Ducati rider Iker Lecuona’s (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) first taste of the new Ducati machine as he teams up with 2025 runner-up Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) for 2026. The majority of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field stuck around at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, Andalucia, after the season-ending Pirelli Spanish Round to partake in a test event at the venue, giving fans and competition alike the first look at Lecuona in Ducati red as the fifth-year rider hit the ground running with the new and improved Italian 2026 homologation.
On the new bike and their new rider, Ducati Technical Coordinator Marco Zambenedetti said: “The new 2026 Panigale is all new, it’s a bike that has been fully, deeply revised in every area. The aerodynamics use some concepts from MotoGP; the chassis is completely revised, with a new front frame, rear swing arm, different balance, a completely different gearbox and engine heads, as well as revised suspension, and a totally different electronics package. Compared to the old model, the biggest difference will be changes to the chassis and aerodynamics in terms of bike behaviour, but the riders' feedback and the lap times will tell us. We want to give a warm welcome to Iker. These days we need to focus on his feeling with the bike. I think he has lots of potential, and with the team being new, I hope we will find the right way to work at our best together.”
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