Ducati gives us a teaser of its 2012 1199 superbike by releasing its name and logo, but we won’t get the whole enchilada until the EICMA show in Milan on Nov. 10-13. The Ducati 1199 Panigale is named to honor the Italian marque’s hometown. Here’s the official word from Ducati PR.
The new model not only will deliver record performance, breathtaking design and technical innovation, it also breaks with our Superbike tradition by adding a name to its 1199cc engine capacity, making a significant and warm association to its historic roots in the Borgo Panigale (pronounced "Pan-ee-gah-lee") area of Bologna.
Having attracted massive, world-wide interest during the machine’s many test phases, the exciting new model is also now officially named in an emotional video released on the Italian manufacturer’s website, www.ducatiusa.com, and Ducati Motor Holding’s official Youtube channel. The wait to discover the incredible performance, innovative design and ground-breaking technologies of the new 1199 Panigale will continue for just a few more weeks.
Purists might already be turning a bright shade of rosso corsa, but it’s interesting to note that none other than three-time WSBK champion Troy Bayliss has been instrumental in developing the Panigale. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is no bad thing at all. We just wonder whether all this breaking away from tradition business might be a sign of an all-new radical Desmosedici for Valentino Rossi in 2012.
