If you’re a road racer and you really must have the newest and fastest kit on the block, then this bike is for you. Ducati has a newer, better, faster Panigale, and it’s almost as close to a Ducati Corse bike as you can get without being a factory racer (or a Gresini, Moody or Pramac). Okay, it doesn’t have a carbon-bonded frame like the limited Superleggera, but it has everything complicated and race-ready to make up for it. Ducati says it has improved the SP2 in every way; aerodynamics and ergonomics, as well as improvements to the engine, chassis and electronics.
The new king of the Panigale pile is the V4 SP2 you see here. SP stands for Sport Production in case you need a hint. Ducati was quick to point out that the 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale engine in the V4 SP2 is directly sourced from the team’s MotoGP efforts. The race-derived engine management system delivers even quicker engine response than before, while delivering 228 hp and 96.6 lb-ft of torque when fitted with the Akrapovic exhaust. optional titanium. To give the driver the full potential of the engine, a special torque system and four different power modes are available to choose from.
So if the engine is from MotoGP, where is the rest of it from? Ducati says the advanced Brembo brakes, lightweight carbon wheels, ultimate transmission and dry clutch components come directly from its WorldSBK effort. It also comes with racing-style footrests and a bunch of carbon bits. When the car is delivered, it comes standard with a track kit, which includes a billet cover for emptying the rearview mirror, a kit for removing the license plate holder and an opening carbon clutch cover.
The SP2 chassis uses an aluminum front frame, which itself holds the Desmosedici Stradale engine as a bearing member. The swingarm and seat post are bolted directly to the engine case. This not only contributes to a narrower, stiffer chassis, but also a lighter one. Here’s a bit of fun from Ducati: “The pivot of the swingarm is positioned in such a way as to increase the anti-squat effect, i.e. to reduce the rear of the vehicle when exiting corners and when reopening the throttle, thus stabilizing the vehicle during acceleration. ” Skillful!
Suspension system is a new special Öhlins system with the second generation of Smart EC 2.0. Apparently this new system includes a “target-based tuning interface) that works not by clicks but “by goals”. Ducati doesn’t say what that means, but it sounds interesting. There’s a pressurized cartridge-damped racing fork at the front and a new TTX36 shock at the rear.
Ducati calls this bike “the ultimate racing machine,” ideal for amateur riders to experience race days and fight against themselves for the best weekend set of laps. If that sounds like you and you have $39,500 to spare in your pocket, go to a Ducati dealer and pick one up.
