the slightest hint that the elec-
tronics were keeping everything
together, other than the fact that
a raging V4 was "only" pump-
ing out 150 horsepower in a wet
throttle map.
With two part wet, part dry-
ing sessions out of the way, and
MotoGP hotshot Jorge Martin
having dispatched us on the
back wheel out of turn five, it
was a case of just getting more
and more stuck in and letting the
track and the bike come to us.
Words can barely describe how
different this '22 model is from
the '21 and '20, let alone the '18.
Confidence and stability on the
brakes is a night-and-day dif-
ference with far less movement
from the rear tire, and we'll put
that down to the gas-charged
forks and chassis tweaks. And
speaking of movement, the
signature Ducati power-weave is
seemingly completely gone.
The steering also genuinely
feels easier; a nudge of the bars,
and it'll more willingly follow any
line you want, whereas the older
VOLUME 59 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 4, 2022 P63
(Top) Still the best-
looking tail in the game.
(Bottom) Ohlins Smart EC
2.0 suspension remains
unchanged at the rear, but
the fork is now gas charged
with more travel.
(Left) Tenuous wet
laps showed even at
slower speeds the
Panigale's manners
are impeccable.
