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Panigale: Ducati's strike force

BOLOGNA, Italy - This year, 2012, will go down in history, Ducati says, as “the year of the Panigale”.

The Italian bikemaker says the high-tech machines have generated huge interest since its first public appearance and "opened a new chapter in the company’s long and successful history".

The 1199 Panigale (named for a western section of Bologna) collected the “Best Bike of Show” award as soon as it was unveiled at the 2011 Eicma motorcycle show in Milan, Italy. It has gone on to collect more than 30 major international acknowledgements and awards from motorcycle publications and major lifestyle titles.

RECORD YEAR

Despite the downward trendv in motorcycle sales, the 1199 Panigale has performed as well in showrooms as it has on road and track: more than 7500 have been sold in 2012.

"The sales performance further acknowledges the energy and resources we have poured into the constant research and development of new product," Ducati says, "an approach that has made 2012 a record commercial and financial results year."

Ducati describes the 1199 Panigale as "bred for the track and trained for the road, a true revolution of the species destined to influence the entire sports motorcycle environment."

It claims to be the most high-tech, most powerful twin-cylinder production engine on the planet - 145kW for 164kg of Italian thoroughbred.

With the click of a button, Ducati’s riding mode control delivers performance with enhanced rider confidence by combining seven technologies:

• The latest sports ABS
• Traction control
• Electronic suspension
• Quick-Shift
• Race-derived engine brake
• Ride-by-Wire

Each is programmed into the bike's electronic rider assistance system. Even the full-colour data display changes to suit the rider’s environment.

The Ducati Panigale is also available in 1199, 1199 S and 1199 S Tricolore versions.

For 2013, the 1199 Panigale R will take over as the Panigale flagshiop to extend the family; a machine developed with enhanced technical specifications by Ducati Corse for World Superbike competition.

More on Ducati SA.
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