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A Ducati Streetfighter V4 teaser of its debut at the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) has appeared in the Ducati FB page.
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The video ends with the messages “The gloves come off at Pikes Peak” and “Stay tuned June 13.”
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Carlin Dunne is slated to ride a “Ducati Pikes Peak Prototipo” which heavily implies a Streetfighter V4 prototype.
A Ducati Streetfighter V4 teaser of its debut at the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) has appeared in the Ducati FB page. The video showed a few lines of a bike, before flashing to “The gloves come off at Pikes Peak” and instructing us to “Stay tuned June 13.”
Although the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb officially begins from 24th June with pre-race activities such as scrutineering, official practice and qualifying, the race proper begins on 30th June.
However, there are unsanctioned practices on 8th, 9th , 14th, 15th and 16th June for the competitors. Thus, the unveiling of the Streetfighter V4 happens on the eve of one of those tests.
Interestingly, the Streetfighter V4 isn’t found in the competitors’ listing. Instead, it’s described as “Ducati Pikes Peak Prototipo (prototype),” in the heavyweight category. Carlin Dunne who has won on Ducatis multiple times will ride the bike. Dunne also won last year on a Ducati Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak. However, his final time was 10 seconds off the record set by Chris Fillmore in 2018 on the KTM 1290 Super Duke R.
There exists beyond doubt that Ducati wants to not only retain the PPIHC crown but also set a new record. Indeed, a Streetfighter V4 prototype was spotted testing at a track last week.
The PPIHC is a 156-corner “track” up a hillside. The competitors (including cars, 4X4s, quads) start from sea level and wind their way up to the finish line at 4302.2 metres (14, 115 feet).
Superbikes were allowed a few years before but were subsequently banned due to a number of fatal crashes. “Motorcycles with one-piece, non-clip-on handlebars are allowed,” as the organizers put it.
So, stay tuned, indeed!
