Ducati introduces track-oriented Panigale V4 SP

If the standard Ducati Panigale V4 wasn’t enough bike for you, have no fear. Now, there’s a Ducati Panigale V4 SP (which stands for Sport Production). This machine is aimed at on-track action, and comes with up-spec’d components towards that end.

You could sort of see this machine as half-way between the standard Panigale V4 and the Superleggera, as Ducati says many of the performance parts were lifted from the super-light litrebike.

The SP has the same carbon rims, brake calipers, brake master cylinders and dry clutch as the Superleggera. According to Ducati, this is all about enabling higher performance. “The most important component for the improvement of the dynamic qualities are certainly the precious 5 split-spoke carbon rims, 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) lighter than the forged aluminium ones of the Panigale V4 S which reduce rolling inertia, making the bike significantly more agile and light in changes of direction.” 

And so the press release goes. Lighter wheels turn faster, Brembo Stylema brake calipers offer consistent performance, especially when paired with an easily-adjustable Brembo MCS radial brake pump. 

Rizoma rear-set footpegs allow for easy customization of the riding position, and cut some weight, too. The dry clutch is supposed to be more suitable for track riding, and Ducati even went with a 520-pitch chain to cut weight.

The SP ships with a race kit, to morph the bodywork into a more race-ready form, and Ducati also includes a datalogger, to allow riders to analyze their in-flight dynamics. That’s pretty heady stuff for an over-the-counter sportbike, considering it was practically sci-fi only a generation ago.

The engine itself is the same 1100cc V4 as used in the Panigale V4 and Panigale V4 S models, cranking out 214 horsepower at 13,000 rpm and 91.5 pound-feet of torque at 9,500 rpm.  The Ohlins suspension is also listed from the V4 S (NIX-30 fork, TTX36 shock, plus a steering damper). The Panigale V4 SP uses Ohlin’s proprietary “smart” electronic damping control system too, along with the other electro-trickery you’d expect: adjustable engine braking, wheelie/launch control, slide control, cornering ABS and traction control, and so on.

Speaking of that traction control system: Ducati’s making much ballyhoo about its new Dynamic Traction Control system. Supposedly, DTC EVO 3 is now more predictive, keeping riders safer in changing conditions. Ducati also reworked the riding modes. Now, there’s two Race Riding Mode maps, so a rider can have different configurations adapted to “define the best set-up based on the track and his riding style.”

Ducati says the Panigale V4 SP weighs 173 kilograms dry. Of course, the SP has its own special paint scheme, to let other riders know just how much money you’ve spent. Speaking of which, the SP will cost $42,995 CAD when it arrives here next season.