SBK | Misano WDW 2026: A party, celebrations and an exciting performance by Lorenzo Baldassarri in the Lenovo Race of Champions.

There was no real break for Lorenzo Baldassarri following the WorldSBK round at Misano on 12–14 June. Between media commitments and training sessions, the GoEleven rider still got his fill of competition thanks to a special edition of World Ducati Week, which – to mark the brand’s centenary – featured Lorenzo himself among the stars of the Lenovo Race of Champions.

An event within an event that is attracting ever-increasing attention from fans and industry insiders alike. Riding identical bikes – the brand-new Panigale V4S models – Ducati champions from the top European and world categories battled it out over a full race weekend at Misano, the historic venue for this major Ducati-themed event.

«It was my first experience both as a guest and as a rider at the WDW, and it was an incredible thrill. Being there for Ducati’s centenary is a unique experience, and the huge crowds that turned out at the circuit confirmed that. The atmosphere was electric, shared with Ducati riders and motorbike enthusiasts from Italy and all over the world. Riding the Panigale V4S was fantastic. It’s a bike that’s incredibly fast even in standard spec, and that was evident in qualifying, where we set times almost on a par with Superbike machines, less than a tenth of a second behind Nicolò Bulega, who rode brilliantly. In the race, we had a great time, put on a show and deserved our place on the podium. Celebrating with a third-place finish at such an important and unique event was marvellous. I needed it; I had to put the Misano round behind me and make up for that unlucky weekend. Congratulations to Ducati for organising a magnificent event, and I can’t wait to get back on my Panigale V4R for this weekend’s Donington Grand Prix.» (Lorenzo Baldassarri)

It was a truly emotional moment for the GoEleven rider, who – from the World Championship circuits to Ducati’s centenary celebrations – paid tribute to the marvellous bikes from Borgo Panigale with yet another of his outstanding performances. It was an honour to be there and to leave an indelible mark on this special occasion, which came as the culmination of a gruelling period of training and focus ahead of the second half of the championship.

To stay up to date, follow the social media channels 7balda (Instagram) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Facebook), and visit the official website worldsbk.com. To experience all the excitement of the races live and on demand, simply tune in to worldsbk.com, Sky Sport, NOWtv and TV8 on channel 8 of digital terrestrial television.