Italian racing icon Marco Melandri cemented his position in the annals of motorsports history by being one of the very few top riders who have tasted success in every category he raced in – from being a 250cc world champion to winning races in MotoGP against none other than 9x World Champion ‘Valentino Rossi’.
Melandri had a very successful run in the premier class of motorcycle racing: MotoGP, racing for almost every manufacturer possible on the grid. Melandri began his career with Yamaha, and later shifted his services to Honda, where he had one of his most successful years in the championship. At the end of his time in the championship, Melandri tried his luck with Ducati and later with Kawasaki in his final year.
In 2011, Marco left the MotoGP grid, trading prototype machines for superbikes in the World Superbike Championship. His career path in the WSBK Championship had some stark similarities to his MotoGP career – starting off with the Yamaha World Superbike team, later on with BMW, Aprilia, and Ducati.
The World Superbike Championship is where Melandri had his most successful years of his racing career, post-250cc championship. He achieved 75 podiums and 22 race victories, 4 of which came with the Ducati Team during the twilight of his career. Melandri raced for the Ducati from 2017 to 2019, during which he raced on board the Ducati 1199R Panigale V2 F18.
The said 1199R Panigale V2 raced by Marco Melandri in the World Superbike Championship is now up for grabs. The bike took Marco Melandri to two pole positions, two race victories, 10 podium finishes, and 5th overall in the 2018 World Superbike championship.
This race-winning Ducati Panigale V2 race bike can be yours in November 2025, when the bike will be put up for auction at the NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham by Iconic Auctioneer. The Bike is expected to bring anything between £60,000 and £80,000. Ever since it was retired from racing, the bike has been maintained as a part of the private collection, making it ready for track duties without much prep time.
