How do you pay homage to one of the most sophisticated motorcycles from one of the most iconic motorcycle manufacturers in the world? The brand has a storied history, aspirational value that few can match, and all the glory on the world stage in motorsports. The brand I am talking about is Ducati. They have dominated MotoGP in recent years. They have been a force to be reckoned with in WSBK. And about history, you all know about the 916, right? 

Now, the motorcycle. Streetfighter V4 S. World’s fastest street naked motorcycle. In essence, it is a Panigale V4 without the fairing, a broader handlebar, peppier gearing, and that is it. It is more comfortable from an ergonomic standpoint, but that seems like a massive disservice and oversimplification of the motorcycle. It is a near-WSBK-spec motorcycle available for you to buy and tame on regular roads with relative… comfort? I love the world we live in. 

Anyway, this is one of my favourite motorcycles. And if you know me, all my motorcycles get some kind of, let’s say, treatment. I am a web designer, photographer, graphics designer, and then some. In a nutshell, I am a visual artist. So, I design all the liveries that you see on my motorcycles myself. For this one, I wanted to pay homage to the brand, their exploits on the racetrack, and the speed of the Streetfighter V4 S itself by letting the design lean on two of the biggest names in MotoGP. 

So one side of my 2022 Streetfighter V4 S is inspired by Valentino Rossi. One of the most iconic names, not just limited to MotoGP or even motorsports as a whole. Arguably, he put MotoGP on the map. Whether it was his talent on the racetrack or his personality and charisma off it, Rossi is a name most people would know, whether they care about motorcycles or not. He also raced for Ducati at a point in time, so that made the decision easier… it was not a difficult decision at any point because Rossi is Rossi, and I am a fan. 

The other side pays homage to another iconic name- Marc Marquez. Arguably, he was Rossi’s toughest rival both on and off the track. Their feud is fodder for fans even a decade after what could be called the boiling point of their rivalry. Arguably, the most gifted riders ever to have graced MotoGP, Marquez made an emotional and resounding return to his winning ways after his disastrous crash in Jerez 2020, and the difficult years after. Then, he made a fateful move to Ducati, and you know what he did last year… So again, not a difficult decision at all. 

Then there are other legendary names, such as Stoner, Fogarty, and more, on the tank. With those as the major elements, I designed the rest of the livery around them, and I am quite happy with the result. The Streetfighter V4 S is already a stunning motorcycle, and with this livery, it attracts even more eyeballs wherever it goes. 

An already stylish Axor Brutale looks even more stunning in this livery, matching our Streetfighter and paying homage to two of the greatest motorcycle racers ever: Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez.

Those are the cosmetics. In terms of performance parts, I have not bothered to change a lot. It just breathes through a BMC Air Filter, and that is all. And why’d I need more? It has 208 horses. It weighs 199 kilos. It is already one of the quickest things around, even when compared to proper superbikes. The one major change that I want to talk about is the tyres. My Streetfighter V4 S is shod with Vredestein Centauro NS tyres. Why? Personal experience. 

Not too long ago, I took another Italian hyper naked around Australia on a roadtrip spanning 12,000 km. During that mad dash around Australia, I rode in all sorts of conditions. Unending straights, winding roads, and even at a racetrack. All that… done without a hitch. And throughout all that my little Italian meanie was shod with, you guessed it, Centauro NS tyres. That experience and some more over here in India is what inspired me to go for these tyres for my Streetfighter V4 S as well.  

How has the experience been so far? I’d say excellent. On roads, one rarely gets the chance to flex the muscles of a motorcycle like the Streetfighter. It is a terrifying prospect. But on the road, there are other challenges. Broken roads. Wet Roads. Too many straight roads. And also, the occasional lapse in morality when you just give it the beans for a few seconds. Throughout all that, the Vredestein Centauro NS tyres persevere. 

The groove design makes them efficient in wet conditions, whereas the harder compound in the middle (on the rear tyre) makes sure that the wear is minimal. You need that on those highway jaunts. Moreover, the structure, thanks to the zero-degree steel belt, ensures that the deformation is minimal when you grab a handful of throttle or drop the anchor. In that sense, these tyres provide confidence like few others have. 

So I have had my fair share of fun on the road with the Streetfighter V4 S and with a ton of confidence, too. But… it’d be a crying shame if a motorcycle like this is left to the whims of public roads and traffic. Also, I have tried these tyres on the racetrack, but I still wanted to see how they’d do on India’s fastest racetrack… and see if they could handle 300 kays an hour! 

I rarely miss an opportunity to ride on the racetrack, and this one was thanks to Apex Racing Academy. It is a premier riding school that organises track days and schools on all functional racetracks around India. They have produced national champions and have more than 5,000 students under their tutelage at the moment. That speaks volumes about their expertise in the field. 

Now, how did it go on the racetrack? As it always does. As I have mentioned earlier, the Streetfighter V4 S is a superbike in street guise. Moreover, it is light and has wide handlebars that give the rider more leverage. All of that comes together to make this motorcycle a missile on the racetrack. The poke out of the corners, the near nonchalance with which you can throw it into corners, and the sophisticated electronics that quietly have your back; it is simply sensational. 

Apex Racing Academy is a premier riding school that organises track days at all operational racetracks across India. With their expert trainers and structured programs, you can rest assured that two days of track days with them will add more to your skillset than what you would accomplish yourself over multiple track days.

Also, with a few laps in, I was able to attack the corner before the 1.2 km back straight really hard and… yes, I was able to hit over 300 km/h. To be able to do that on a naked motorcycle speaks volumes about how good the Streetfighter V4 S is. And also, it is a testament to how good the Vredestein Centauro NS tyres are. The grooves are placed strategically so that you have the biggest contact patch possible (for road tyres), which gives you a lot of confidence. Moreover, the softer compound at the edges aids edge grip, which further fuels the rider to keep increasing those lean angles. 

I was also able to bank on the solid construction of the tyres that makes them minimise deformation even under heavy braking that is needed to shed speed for any particular corner. I was able to push the Streetfighter V4 S further and further, shaving tenths off of my lap time, lap after lap. That is all thanks to the fantastic motorcycle and the fantastic tyres that I had at my disposal. The fact that I have been fortunate enough to ride on the racetrack often might have helped as well. 

Aside from that poor attempt at humility, I really had a very good time on the Streetfighter V4 S. It is a motorcycle that has never managed to not surprise me, even though I have ridden it on the racetrack before, and also, despite the fact that I know it is mind-blowing. This day also furthered my faith in the Vredestein Centauro NS tyres as a very, very viable option for both the road and the racetrack. For full-fledged track days, you obviously need the slicks, but for all else, these will suffice.