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2011 Ducati Superbike 1198 SP

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More eye candy for Ducatisti and Valentino Rossi fans, as Ducati has released a video of Rossi’s test at Misano on board the 1198 SP. Testing his shoulder’s fitness level, Rossi admitted to being in considerable pain during the test, which doesn’t bode well for the Italian as the 2011 season rapidly approaches. Before Rossi will take to the Ducati Desmosedici GP11 under the lights of Qatar, MotoGP is slated to run at Sepang this week. With such little time passing since this test on the Ducati Superbike 1198 SP, we imagine the outing at Malaysia will still be painful for the Italian, as he tries to further hone in the GP11 for racing duty.

Confirming what we already knew from ahead of Intermot, the 2011 Ducati Superbike 1198 SP will get a bevy of add-ons and upgrades for 2011, and help Ducati deplete its stockpile of 1198 lumps before the 2012 Superbike debuts next year. With a MSRP of $21,995, the 2011 Ducati Superbike 1198 SP gets a slipper clutch, Öhlins TTX rear shock (normally a $1,400 option), aluminum fuel tank with a .66 gallon larger capacity (4.75 gallons total, and normally a $1,500 option), and Marchesini forged aluminum wheels ($2,300 option).

2011 Ducati Superbike 1198 SP is taking the place of the Ducati Superbike 1198 S line, and even with all these goodies added to it, Ducati has only raised the price of the middle-spec Superbike by $200. If you’ve recently purchased a Ducati Superbike 1198 S, we feel sorry for you. More photos after the jump.

The eagle eyes at Dutch publication have spotted the 2011 Ducati Superbike 1198 SP sitting on the Intermot showroom floor before the crowds and media were officially let in today. Sporting a quick-shifter, slipper clutch, aluminum tank, and Öhlins TTX shock, the Ducati Superbike 1198 SP is sure to be a favorite with the track-going crowd, but with a price tag expected to be only $100 more than the current Ducati Superbike 1198 S, we think the 1198 SP will be a big hit with any loyal Ducatisti.

With the 2011 Ducati Superbike 1198 SP, Ducati clearly wants to clear the inventory of the Superbike 1198 models, and make way for the 2012 Superbike that’s so important to the Italian company, that it quit World Superbike over it. More photos and video after the jump.