Ducati has unveiled what it describes as its most extreme road-legal motorcycle to date, marking a celebration of a century of engineering ambition. The Superleggera V4 Centenario is not only a flagship from the Italian manufacturer, but also brings MotoGP-level thinking into a machine that remains just about usable on the road.

As with every Superleggera, lightness, performance, and precision have been pushed to their limits through a relentless focus on materials and engineering. The entire chassis is constructed from carbon fibre, including the frame, swingarm, and wheels, resulting in a wet weight of 381 lb without fuel. That figure is striking by superbike standards, dropping further to 368 lb when fitted with the included racing kit.

The new Desmosedici Stradale R 1100 V4 produces 228 hp in road specification and up to 247 hp in track configuration. Beyond peak output, the engine has been engineered for immediacy and response, with hand-adjusted desmodromic timing and lightweight internals contributing to a sharp, relentless delivery. The resulting power-to-weight ratio of 0.67 hp/lb places it firmly in a category of its own.

The Centenario is the first road-legal motorcycle to feature carbon-ceramic brake discs, paired with Brembo monoblock callipers for consistent performance under extreme conditions. Suspension is equally advanced, with a pressurised Öhlins fork featuring carbon fibre sleeves, which is a solution derived directly from racing to improve front-end feel and stability, and another first for a road-legal two-wheeler.

As ever, Ducati’s exterior design reflects its technical ambition, and the Superleggera V4 Centenario is no exception. The new Rosso Centenario livery introduces a deeper shade of red, linking Ducati’s past, from the 1949 Ducati 60 to the 2026 MotoGP livery, while exposed carbon surfaces underline the machine’s purpose and the Superleggera name. Production is limited to 500 individually numbered examples.