{"id":504232,"date":"2026-02-26T01:10:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T01:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/504232\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T01:10:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T01:10:07","slug":"ducati-worldsbk-rider-suffers-the-worst-feeling-on-new-panigale-v4-r","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/504232\/","title":{"rendered":"Ducati WorldSBK rider suffers \u201cthe worst feeling\u201d on new Panigale V4 R"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Ducati WorldSBK signing Iker Lecuona says his feeling on the Panigale V4 R was \u201cthe worst\u201d it\u2019s been so far during Race 2 at Phillip Island.<\/p>\n

Lecuona had a decent Race 2, finishing eighth after running sixth for much of the race, just being overhauled by Danilo Petrucci<\/a> and Miguel Oliveira<\/a> at the end. He was, however, 30 seconds behind his teammate, Nicolo Bulega<\/a>, at the finish, the Italian completing a season-opening treble in Australia.<\/p>\n

But Lecuona<\/a> said afterwards that he was battling a lack of feeling from the rear tyre throughout the race, something he added was of particular hindrance at a circuit like Phillip Island.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I\u2019m honest I\u2019m a bit frustrated, honestly,\u201d Lecuona told WorldSBK.com after Race 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t talk about the position \u2013 I had a battle with Danilo [Petrucci] and Miguel [Oliveira] during the race, hold always that position \u2013 I talk about that my feeling is the worst feeling on the bike [since] the beginning, honestly.<\/p>\n

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\u201cVery tricky to ride, very difficult, with a lot of huge moments during the race. It\u2019s just that zero feeling with the rear tyre on a track that you need to feel well with the tyres it\u2019s not easy to ride, on wet it\u2019s even harder.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI almost fly 15 times during the race, something like that. Bit frustrated for that reason, that feeling on the bike.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lecuona said he needed to be pleased with his time in Australia, though, feeling he had progressed since the first day of testing on the Monday before the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cOverall I need to be happy, the team are happy so I need to be happy because we did a good progression during the test and now, so during all the week,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the first time from four years ago I raced and I finished Australia, even with no crashes, so that is also a very positive point for myself. Also, it\u2019s no crashes so I don\u2019t lose any feeling on the bike, we worked well, and step-by-step we arrived.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have the speed, we showed our speed, we need to put all the pieces, we need to work and to finish to find that way on the last tenths to be there. But, honestly, we did a really good job.\u201d<\/p>\n

The poor feeling in Race 2 means Lecuona might be the only rider in World Superbike<\/a> at the minute to be hoping for wet weather at the Portimao test on 9\u201310 March.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it rains, for sure I [will do] like 50 or 100 laps because I need to understand what happened today, I need to learn because I know I have the potential,\u201d he said\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIf not, […] still working on the base, still working to learn on the bike.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHere we missed some tenths in some places that I think we can work well in Portimao \u2013 of course, a completely different track, but just keep that performance, keep doing the job, and arrive there more ready for the race weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

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