Ryan Vickers described the Ducati Panigale V4 R WorldSBK bike as potentially “the worst bike you can ride” if not handled correctly. The British rider competed in the 2025 World Superbike season with the Motocorsa team during its inaugural year.
With this transition, Vickers entered 2025 with modest expectations but found adapting to the bike more challenging and time-consuming than anticipated. He explained, “It’s hard to set expectations before the season and truly understand where you stand because I’ve never done this before, and you never know how long or difficult the adjustment will be.”
He noted, “I obviously had to learn a new circuit, a new bike, and new electronics, but the time it takes is uncertain. It’s probably taking longer than I expected to get comfortable with the Ducati and its electronic systems.”
Vickers emphasized the contrast in electronics between British Superbike (BSB) and World Superbike (WorldSBK). “BSB electronics are quite basic, whereas WorldSBK electronics are tailored for each corner, which changes how you ride the bike.” He added, “In BSB, you learn to ride through bike imperfections over years, but WorldSBK electronics automatically adjust, making it challenging when things don’t function perfectly.”
He explained the precision required to get the best from the bike: braking hard, timing the rear brake, and opening the throttle precisely. “If you don’t do all these things right, it could be the worst bike you ride.”
Vickers also highlighted the intense competitiveness of the 2025 season, calling it “one of the most competitive years the Championship has seen.” Lap times have dropped significantly despite minimal bike changes overall. He admitted results have been slow to come but saw progress at Misano, helped by two days of testing prior to the Emilia-Romagna round.
“The test was invaluable,” Vickers said of Misano. “Even though temperatures were high during the race weekend, requiring some adjustments from what we learned, the final race felt really strong.” He praised the team and their efforts in difficult conditions, emphasizing the importance of fitness to handle the bike’s demands.
Fan Take: This insight into adapting to the advanced electronics of WorldSBK bikes showcases the growing technical complexity in the sport, making rider skill and adaptability more crucial than ever. For racing fans, Vickers’ experience highlights the evolving challenge riders face and could signal tighter competition and more thrilling races ahead.
