Ducati have unwrapped their new-for-2015 Superbike, the Panigale 1299 this evening at Milean’s EICMA Show. The latest arrival at the Bologna-based firm, with its 1285 cm3 Superquadro engine, raises the standards once again in terms of performance for supersports bikes on the international market.

Thanks to incredible torque with a value of 144.6 Nm at 8,750 rpm, a dry weight of 166.5 kg (367 lb) and maximum power of 205 hp at 10,500 rpm. With an extremely high power to weight ratio, the 1299 Panigale has become a new benchmark standard for very high performance bikes.

The Panigale R, which is the homologated base for its World Superbike machines and is essentially a road-legal race bike with indicators and lights. Fitted with the 1198 cm3 Superquadro engine, thus falling within Superbike displacement limits, it boasts titanium intake and exhaust valves and rods, two-ring pistons and an extremely lightweight crankshaft which is balanced with tungsten inserts, to guarantee a maximum power of 205 hp at 11,500 revs/minute and a torque of 136.2 Nm at 10,250 rpm. The Panigale R is also fitted with Öhlins mechanical suspension, an adjustable swingarm pivot and the same electronic technology as the 1299 Panigale, as well as a lithium ion battery which means a reduction in weight of over 2 kg, making it a total of 6 kg lighter than the 1199 Panigale R.

The latest generation of Ducati Superbikes builds upon engineering and design solutions introduced on the 1199, rendering the concept of the Superbike for the road still more extreme. The new 1299 Panigale has more torque, it’s more powerful and responsive than the 1199, the bike it replaces, while at the same time it’s easier and safer to ride thanks to the use of innovative solutions devised by Ducati Corse, to allow everyday fans to experience the technology of world champions.

The 1299 Panigale has the Superquadro, the most advanced and powerful twin-cylinder engine produced on the planet, which is made even more extreme by pistons with a diameter of 116 mm, a value that’s used for the very first time on a supersports road bike. The motorcycle has evolved in terms of chassis set-up too: the innovative monocoque chassis now has a steering head angle of 24° to guarantee increased agility when cornering, while the fork pivot is 4 mm lower allowing for increased rear traction in a variety of situations.

The new electronic kit, studied specifically for the 1299 Panigale and integrated in the three different Riding Modes, makes it even more high-performance. Thanks in fact to the presence of the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), Cornering ABS is made available, along with Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) and, on the S version, the Öhlins Smart EC, an event-based control system for the suspension.

Moreover, the Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) now works also during down-changing, to further improve track performance and to make the bike more easy to use on a daily basis. On the 1299 Panigale, the Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) and the Engine Brake Control (EBC) have been optimised by an automatic calibration system which allows for easy changes in tyre size and final drive ratio.