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The final bike of Ducati’s 2022 model year releases has finally dropped, but technically it is a 2023 machine. That’s okay, because the 2023 Ducati Panigale V4 SP2 is set to be a killer Italian superbike.

As we mentioned in our rumors coverage, there isn’t anything too surprising in the design and concept with this new SP2 model, as the Italian brand has taken the potent improvements brought to the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S, given them the “SP” treatment, and added an extra number for good measure.

Ducati isn’t done showing its 2022 model lineup, with the Italian manufacturer suggesting that we will see three more model announcements in the next few weeks.

Teasing three release dates (and thus presumably three new models), Ducati has virtual launches set for February 17th, March 3rd, and March 10th, which will stream on the company’s YouTube channel.

What models could Ducati be getting ready to launch? According to the sleuthing done by Motorcycle.com, we have a good idea what two of those three bikes might be.

My first proper introduction to the Ducati Panigale V4 S happened in Spain, almost  four years go. Testing Ducati’s first proper four-cylinder superbike around the Valencia circuit was like witnessing a moment in history.

The Italian brand had slaughtered the last of its sacred cows, and laid them as tribute on the alter of speed – Ducati was serious about winning in WorldSBK, and had built a machine designed for that specific duty, with a whatever it takes attitude.

Our first outing with the Panigale V4 S showed that Ducati was on the right track. The bike was potent, not perfect, but potent.

Now here we are again, testing the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S at another Spanish race track, and I have to revisit those thoughts from my first meeting.

Potent? Yes, certainly. The 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S only hones the formula further in terms of on-track potency for the Italian brand’s superbike package.

But how close does this new Panigale V4 come to perfection? That is why we were in Jerez de la Frontera, to look for the unobtainable dream.

Our conclusion? For those who can afford to put one in their garage, the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S is two-wheeled nirvana. Let me explain.

In case you missed our “Gone Riding” preview of the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S, we are in Spain right now getting ready to swing a leg over Italy’s newest superbike (we ride on Thursday).

To help us gear-up for the event, and prime our tackling of the Circuito de Jerez with over 200hp of fury, I thought it best to upload these high-resolution photos of the machine (our original post on the bike was a little lacking in this regard too).

An update to an already potent machine, the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S boasts more power, but more importantly, more features to help the rider use all of that power.

For the third time this month, we have crossed over the Atlantic ocean to ride a brand new Italian motorcycle. It is a tough job, but someone has to do it.

This edition of “Gone Riding” sees us getting ready to ride the new Ducati Panigale V4 superbike, which gets a bevy of updates for the 2022 model year.

Ducati has us testing this new Panigale V4 at the Jerez circuit, with the MotoGP track being a popular destination to put a motorcycle through its paces.

It’s Thursday, so that means yet another installment in Ducati’s 2022 model release series, and this time we head to the race track, for an updated 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 superbike.

Ducati has made a number of improvements for the Panigale V4, all of which are aimed at refining this potent superbike, making it easier to ride, and of course, faster on the race track.

Starting next Thursday, Ducati will be debuting a new motorcycle for the 2022 model year every two weeks.

The releasing event culminates on December 9th, and we already know what bike will capstone Ducati's new model debut: the Ducati DesertX.

For those that didn't get the memo, the following is the schedule and teasing title for Ducati's six-part unveiling schedule online:

  • September 30, 2021 - "Your everyday wonder"
  • October 14, 2021 - "Mark your roots"
  • October 28, 2021 - "Rule all mountains"
  • November 11, 2021 - "A new Fighter in town"
  • November 25, 2021 - "The evolution of Speed"
  • December 9, 2021 - "Dream Wilder - DesertX"

As we can see, Ducati is being less obvious with some of its debuts than others, but with some insight into what the Italian brand has been up to, and which bikes it updated and debuted last year, we can reasonably discern what to expect in the coming weeks.

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The Ducati Panigale V4 doesn’t get much in terms of changes for the 2021 model year, which is to be expected since the superbike family from Bologna saw changes made to its superbike package last year.

The Italians do have a surprise for us though, and it is called the Ducati Panigale V4 SP.

To create the “SP” spec of the Panigale V4, you start with the 1,103cc “S” model, and then properly get funky with your bad self.

After months of shutdown, Italy is finally letting its citizens out of their houses, to start their march back to the new normal of daily life. We can only imagine the great relief this means to millions of Italians, after they endured some of the worst effects of COVID-19 in the world.

For our own selfish two-wheeled pursuits, this news also means the return of operations for Italian motorcycle manufacturers, which have seen their factories motionless while larger issues were addressed. Of course, this too leads us to the news that life is returning to the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale.

Accordingly, we get word (from a tweet from Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali, no less) that the Ducati Superleggera V4 is nearing the start of its production, but not before the carbon fiber superbike heads to the Nardò for some high-speed testing.