of nerves. I haven't a clue what the
GP26 is going to be like. It's a pure
prototype without compromise, built
for the fastest rider on the planet.
The factory V4 R makes 240
horsepower, and now we're going
up to 300 horsepower. From a rev
ceiling of 14,000 rpm to 15,000 rpm,
we're escalating to 20,000 rpm. The
rev-limiter is set slightly lower than
it would be for factory riders Mar
-
quez and Francesco Bagnaia, and
we're running steel discs instead of
carbons, but in most other respects
the setup is the same.
The unsilenced MotoGP bike is
fired up, spitting fury into the air. I
jump on (without kicking any of the
aero carbon) and quickly adjust the
brake lever using the span adjuster
on the left bar so it sits slightly
closer. Hopefully, Marc won't mind.
The dash looks similar to
Bulega's, but beyond that every-
thing is wildly different. There are
more buttons crammed onto the
bars and far more systems work-
ing in the background. It doesn't
feel like any Ducati I've ridden
before. In fact, it doesn't feel like
any motorbike I've ridden at all.
Thankfully, there is a conventional
clutch, and the team has taken off
the thumb-operated rear brake and
ride-height device lever.
The handlebars are high and
wide for a race bike, although still
(Left) The moment
of truth: Chad
is let out on the
World Champion's
MotoGP missile.
(Below) There
are very, very few
people in the world
who will have this
photo on their wall.
"I can't overstate its
relentless thrust,"
Chad says.
P120
FEATURE I THE ULTIMATE DUCATI RIDING EXPERIENCE
