Come 2023, the world of motorsport will welcome a new era of motorcycle racing. Much like how Formula E revolutionised single-seater motor racing, the MotoE World Cup will usher a new era of electric racing for bikes. This electrified future of racing will be powered exclusively by the Ducati MotoE.

The MotoE project is undoubtedly an important step in the history of the company as it represents the start of the Ducati electric era. Over the past year, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer has already taken significant steps to create the machine that will spearhead this new exciting motorsport series.

Electric Racer

Code-named “V21L”, the Ducati electric motorcycle prototype will race in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup from 2023. The Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer will be the sole supplier of motorcycles for the championship, which is the electric class of the MotoGP World Championship.

Ducati has already begun shaking down its new electric prototype, which was co-developed by the Ducati Corse team. In December, the Ducati MotoE bike took to the track for the first time. Michele Pirro, professional rider and Ducati test rider since 2013 was tasked with evaluating the technical characteristics and potential of Ducati’s first electric motorcycle.

At the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Pirro put the “V21L” through its paces. According to Ducati, the most important challenges in the development of an electric racing motorcycle remain related to the size, weight and range of the batteries.

It is the manufacturer’s goal to make electric motorcycles that are high-performance and characterized by their lightness available to all FIM Enel MotoE World Cup participants. Key focus areas include not only performance and speed but also the containment of weight and the consistency of power delivery during a race.

Although motor racing is the objective of the “V21L”, Ducati is nevertheless looking far beyond motorsport. The R&D and data accumulated from the development of the prototype will be used to create a Ducati electric vehicle for road use that is sporty, light, exciting and able to satisfy all enthusiasts in the near future.

(Images: Ducati)