RideFast July 2020 2

the Superleggera (and only the
second person outside Ducati
to sample one too), means the
pressure is on. Even Claudio
Domenicali, the CEO of Ducati, is
present, and even he’s not ridden
it yet (he’s after me).
Awaiting in a scorching Mugello
garage is my Superleggera, lovingly
prepared, of course, Pirelli slicks
wrapped in tyre warmers. I preselected
my rider mode – ‘Race
B’, which reduces the torque in
first and second gear – though I
have the option to flick into the full
power A mode whilst riding.
I’m given the nod to get ready.
The engine fires up with a press
of the starter button. Ducati
has opted for the race exhaust,
which means the full 234hp and
an intoxicating exhaust note. A
few blips of the throttle sends a
spinetingling reverberation around
the amphitheatre which is Mugello.
I let the engine revs drop, listen to
the dry clutch rattle, and give the
brake lever span adjuster on the
left a quick turn. It’s a conventional
down-change into first gear, then
clutch out and we’re down pitlane
to join an empty track.
The clutch is now redundant as
I fire in a few quick gearchanges
towards turn one. The bark
between fast gear changes
sounds like a gun going off and
echoes around the grandstand.
It’s over 30 degrees out here
and the Pirelli slicks have been
scrubbed and been cooking on
warmers, so there’s no need to
take it steady. Out of turn one,
stay to the right ready for the
left-right chicane of turns two and
three. Immediately the carbonchassis
of the Superleggera wants
to turn, feeling light, accurate, and
fast steering. A similar chicane
at turns four and five reveals a
change of direction that is simply
phenomenal as my knee slider
hits both apexs. Out of turn five,
I’m recalibrating to sheer intensity
of the V4’s power and torque, yet
only tickling the throttle… and up to
the spectacular Casanova, Savelli,
Arrabbiata one and two, arguably
one of the most exciting sections
of track in the world.
The Ducati drops down Savelli
in one fluid movement and holds
confidence-inspiring corner
speed, then lines up Arrabbiata
one and two. This Ducati might
have the power of the factory’s
WSBK contender, or near as
damn it, but it’s usable and
smooth. I’m a little rusty from the
enforced layoff and braking and
accelerating at the wrong points,
but the bike is allowing me to so
without a hint of complaint.
Around the long turn 12
(Correntaio) for the first time
and the Ducati wants to dig in
and lean – not a millimetre of
drift – and takes the bumps with
ease. Now the fast section up to
the long and lingering last corner,
Bucine, before the long start-finish
“This Ducati might have the
power of the factory’s WSBK
contender, or near as damn it,
but it’s usable and smooth.”
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