The 2026 World Supersport season marks the final chapter for the Ducati Panigale V2 featuring a 955 cc engine before it transitions to an 890 cc platform. Amidst this technological shift, rider Philipp Ottl competing for the factory squad Feel Racing faces an uphill battle under the current regulatory framework.
The historical dominance enjoyed by the V2 machine has faded significantly due to the implementation of performance balancing systems. While top speed remains a strong suit, Ottl points out a critical deficit in acceleration coming out of slow and medium-speed corners compared to competing manufacturers.
Reflecting on the technical limitations during a recent interview, Ottl explained, "I don't want to complain about the classification of the Ducati or the system itself. But if you look objectively at the manufacturers' standings, the picture has been different since the classification change in Misano." He noted that the acceleration disadvantage becomes glaringly obvious once tire degradation sets in during race distance.
These underlying performance traits place immense pressure on qualifying execution. During the race weekend at Estoril, a mere half-second gap to the pole position time shockingly relegated him to fifteenth on the starting grid, requiring aggressive recovery drives.
Looking ahead to the season finale at Jerez, Ottl remains determined to extract the maximum potential from his machinery. "To finish on the podium, every single lap has to be absolutely perfect. We will give everything one last time in Jerez and I am really excited," he concluded. Read our in-depth analysis on Sportrik.
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