Shane Byrne: "The Panigale is savage"

Author: Oli Rushby Posted: 19 Oct 2015

Four-time British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne has described Ducati’s Panigale as ‘savage’ after a quick road test earlier this week. 

Following his and the PBM team’s decision to switch to Ducati, the Bologna factory leant Byrne a Panigale R for a few weeks and it turns out he was suitably impressed. 

“What a machine,” said Byrne speaking to Bike Social at Brands Hatch. “When I ride on the road, I’m usually on a cruiser! I have a couple of Harleys I plod about on and a few other toys, some old RG500s, an RGV250, a Z1000 Kawasaki gave me - all things you don’t go and ride too fast on the road. 

“To try to get a preliminary feel for the Panigale, Ducati gave me a Panigale R and while I can’t confess to the speed let’s just say it was pretty flippin’ rapid. It was very interesting as well. Even after that hour or two I spent on the road I can tell there is definitely Ducati DNA in there but, as I said to Tim Maccabee [Ducati UK boss], who had the bright idea of sticking a turbo-charger and a nitro kit on a testastretta engine because that’s what it’s like! If you try and ride it smoothly it’s alright but if you go full throttle in any gear it’s savage! The road bike is way too fast. Riding it around on local A roads, it was always going to feel fast and great but the one i get to ride on Wednesday will be the real deal and I’m super excited about that.”