2026 V2 Ducati Future Champ Academy
Ducati and Garage51 have teamed up to create the V2 Ducati Future Champ Academy, aimed at discovering and fostering young motorcycling talents, helping them grow through a single-brand trophy with attached training programme.
Garage51, with ten-time Italian champion Michele Pirro as the project’s technical reference point, brings experience as promoter of the V4 Elite Cup, alongside Ducati’s experience running 23 years of Ducati Riding Experience programmes.
Young riders taking part in the V2 Ducati Future Champ Academy will benefit from the support of a team that will help them build riding technique and in the management of their competitive activities.
The V2 Ducati Future Champ Academy, which will see 30 Panigale V2s on the track, divided into the 16-21 and Over 21 categories, with a training programme that includes classroom lessons, pre-season testing and a race calendar consisting of national and international events.
Riders will be supported by highly experienced riders, such as Ducati MotoGP official test rider Michele Pirro, and three-time Italian Supersport champion and new CIV-Production Bike champion Davide Stirpe.
They will be joined by physical training specialists and managers with extensive experience in the world of racing, who will also train them in communication with sponsors, teams and organisations to prepare for a professional career.
At the end of the championship, the riders who show the most potential, based on their results and the instructors’ assessment, will take part in a test organised by Ducati on higher-level competition bikes.
2026 V2 Ducati Future Champ Academy Calendar
The series will participate in seven race weekends, with a calendar that includes several rounds of the CIV Italian Championship and international events such as the Italian rounds of the WorldSBK Championship, the JuniorGP race at Barcelona, and a dedicated race during World Ducati Week 2026.
- Round 1 – April 24-26: Misano (CIV)
- Round 2 – May 8-10: Mugello (CIV)
- Round 3 – May 22-24: Barcelona (Junior GP)
- Round 4 – June 12-14: Misano (WorldSBK)
- Round 5 – July 3-5: Misano (World Ducati Week 2026)
- Round 6 – July 24-26: Misano (CIV)
- Round 7 – September 17-19: Cremona (WSBK)
The races are only part of the Academy formula. In addition to the seven championship rounds, there are five official tests, spread throughout the season, organised at selected circuits and coordinated by Academy staff. During these events and races, riders will follow a training programme run by qualified instructors.
The added value of the Academy is also represented by constant technical support on the track, with Ducati staff present in the pits to manage the bikes and set-up, as well as a dedicated spare parts service.
Riders will also have access to a reserved area in the Future Champ Academy Village, with shared and coordinated logistics.
Costs and Participation
The complete participation package has an approximate cost of €49,500.00 + VAT, divided into seven instalments of €7,071.43 + VAT, to be paid in advance before each event.
The registration fee includes:
- Entry for official races and tests (including federal and organisational fees)
- Technical supervision on the track by Ducati Academy staff, with a constant presence in the garages and technical support for the correct management of the bikes and set-up
- Spare parts service on the track with immediate availability of original Ducati and Racing components (for a fee, if needed) for participation and routine maintenance during race weekends
- Reserved space within the Ducati Academy Village, in a dedicated area with shared garage and coordinated logistics.
- Consumables (fuel, tyres, brake pads, engine oil, clutches) in a defined quantity.
- A maximum of five riders per event will also be able to participate in a single race as Wild Cards.
In addition to the registration fee, participants must purchase a Ducati Panigale V2 S Model Year 2025 or later, on which those enrolled in the V2 Ducati Future Champ Academy will receive a 15% discount on the list price. The bike will be fitted with the official preparation kit, supplied by Garage 51 Misano, at a cost of €10,000.00 + VAT.
The kit includes:
- Suspension set-up, with spring adjustment based on the rider’s weight and skill level
- Racing exhaust system
- Adjustable racing footpegs and handlebars
- Racing fuel tank cap
- CNC-machined triple clamp and levers
- ABS elimination kit
- Final gearing kit (two front and two rear sprockets)
- Racing fairing kit painted with official team graphics, complete with identification stickers
Optional motorcycle management equipment is also available, recommended for safety and performance, valued at €7,500.00 + VAT. This equipment includes a pair of wheels complete with brake discs for mounting rain tyres, front and rear stands, tyre warmers, a rack trolley with an integrated generator to power the tyre warmers, and supporting hardware.
The prize money for the Future Champ Academy is currently being finalised.
