Ducati Panigale V4 SP: the return of “Sport Production”

First introduced on the legendary Ducati 851,this acronym identified the versions that were the basis for the development of racing bikes used in the Sport Production Championship, precursor of the current Superstock. Even today, in Ducati, the acronym “SP” is used to recognize a production bike with a specific technical equipment that makes it faster on the track.

Consistent with this philosophy, the Panigale V4 SP differs from the Panigale V4 S MY21, as well as for the dedicated livery and the steering head obtained from the tank that shows the progressive number of the bike, also for the equipment enriched with cycling contents and for the engine, designed to raise its dynamic performance in use on the track. The specific equipment provided to the Panigale V4 SP also allows to reduce the weight of the bike by 1 kg compared to the Panigale V4 S, reaching 173 kg dry.

Essential and fascinating, the “Winter Test” livery that characterizes the bike is inspired by that of ducati corse bikes used in the pre-season tests of the MotoGP and SBK Championships. The matte black of the fairings, combined with the matte carbon finish of the rims and wings, contrasts with the bright red accents and the brilliance of the brushed aluminum tank on sight.

The Panigale V4 SP is also distinguished by being equipped with contents derived from the Superleggera V4, such as the lightweight carbon split 5-spoke rims, the exclusive Brembo Stylemen R® front brake calipers and the Brembo front brake pump with MCS (Multiple Click System) system and “remote adjusting” device.

The carbon rims, 1.4 kg lighter than those forged in aluminum, reduce the moment of inertia, making the bike significantly more agile and light in changes of direction, while the Brembo Stylema R® brake calipers guarantee high braking power, as well as an exceptional consistency of performance even during a long timed session without changes to the brake lever stroke. The pliers are operated by a Brembo MCS radial pump, which allows the rapid adjustment of the braking feeling.

The “SP” Road Desmosedici mounts the dry clutch, indispensable to be effective on the track in driving at the limit, and is coupled to a final transmission with a chain of 520 (the same size used for motorcycles competing in the MotoGP championship), lighter than that of normal production.

The equipment of the Panigale V4 SP is completed by the adjustable aluminum rider’s platforms obtained from the tank that allow the rider to find the optimal position in the saddle, from the carbon front fender and accompanying elements that can be used on track days, such as the open carbon clutch cover, the caps for the removal of the body rack and mirrors, as well as the Ducati Data Analyser+ telemetry kit (DDA+) with GPS module that allows you to professionally analyze your performance on the track.

Thanks to its technical equipment, the Panigale V4 SP is the ideal bike for the amateur who wants to get on the track and be immediately fast. The quality of the braking bike is extraordinary, as is the lightness in bending down and the tendency to close the line. The amateur riding the “SP” will therefore be faster than if he were driving the more demanding “R” version.

PANIGALE V4 SP at a glance

Colors

• Winter Test livery in matte black with bright red details and brushed aluminum tank on sight

Amenities

• Steering head obtained from the tank with the progressive number of the bike reported
• Brushed aluminum tank on sight
• Dedicated saddle with “V4 SP” logo
• Carbon fiber wings
• Carbon fiber front fender
• Dry clutch STM-EVO SBK
• Final transmission with 520 chain, specific pinion and crown
• Split 5-spoke carbon fiber rims
• Brembo Stylema R front brake calipers
• Brembo MCS 19.21 (Multiple Click System) front brake pump with remote adjusting
• Front brake levers and clutch “unloaded”
• Adjustable aluminum rider’s platforms made from the tank with carbon paratacchi
• Single-seat configuration
• Ducati Data Analyser⁺ Kit (DDA⁺) with GPS module (accompanying)
• Open carbon clutch cover* (accompanying)
• License plate door removal cover* (accompanying)
• Aluminium mirror hole cover made from full* (accompanying)

*This product is designed for closed-loop vehicles only. Use on public roads is prohibited by law.

Livery “Winter Test”

The Panigale V4 SP is characterized by an essential livery, called “Winter Test”, inspired by that of ducati corse bikes used in the pre-season tests of the MotoGP and SBK Championships.

The “total black” effect created by the matte black of the hulls and carbon rims contrasts with the brilliance of the brushed aluminum tank, while the bright red accents that mark the tail, tank and dome are a reference to the red coloring of the sports cars of Borgo Panigale. The saddle is specific to the material used and is customized with the “V4 SP” logo, the carbon wings are embellished with the Italian flag that also appears on the official Panigale V4 R SBK.

The racing look is emphasized by the removal of mirrors and the life rack and with the assembly of the relative occlusion covers of the holes supplied together with the bike, of which those for the mirrors are made of aluminum made from the full.

Engine

The Panigale V4 SP is driven by the Desmosedici Stradale of 1,103 cm³ compliant with the European anti-pollution euro 5 regulations. A 90° V4 with Desmodromic distribution of MotoGP derivation, unique in its kind for the counter-rotating crankshaft and the order of the “Twin Pulse” bursts. The engine is capable of delivering a power of 214 hp at 13,000 rpm, and a torque of 12.6 kgm at 9,500 rpm.

The 90° V4 of the Panigale V4 SP uses an STM EVO-SBK dry clutch, made of aluminum made from the tank. Compared to the panigale V4 S oil bath clutch, in the extreme use of the bike on the track, the dry clutch guarantees a more effective anti-jump function, even in the most aggressive climbs, and greater fluidity in all phases of “off-throttle”, in addition to the possibility of customizing the “mechanical” engine brake level, choosing a different secondary spring among those available in the Ducati Performance catalog. The mounting of the open clutch cover made of carbon fiber, included in the equipment, gives the classic metallic noise loved by all Ducatisti.

The engine transfers the bike to the rear wheel through a lighter final transmission of 0.4 kg with 520 chain, dedicated pinion and crown.

Cycling

On the bike level, the Panigale V4 SP is equipped with state-of-the-art Ducati Superleggera V4-derived technical content such as carbon rims, Brembo Stylemen R® front brake calipers and brembo brake pump with MCS system. To these are added the steering head obtained from the tank with the progressive number of the bike and the precious adjustable aluminum rider’s platforms with carbon paratacchi.

The fine rims of the Panigale V4 SP, with 5 split spokes, are made of high-strength carbon fiber and have aluminum hubs screwed to the composite structure. Both allow a weight saving of – 1.4 kg compared to the forged aluminum wheels of the Panigale V4 S, which rise to -3.4 kg compared to those in aluminum of the Panigale V4, with a significant reduction in the moment of inertia to the advantage of agility and lightness in changes of direction.

The brakes department consists at the front of two Brembo 330 mm diameter discs combined with the new Brembo Stylema® R single-block pliers, with racing-derived pistons equipped with ventilation holes, which improve the stability of the lever stroke after numerous laps of the track and reduce the residual torque. The front brakes are driven by a Brembo radial pump with multiple click system (MCS) that allows you to adjust the wheel system in a practical and fast way over three configurations to customize the braking feeling. The adjustment of the distance of the brake lever is equipped with the “remote adjusting” device, which allows you to adjust the position of the lever by acting on a knob placed on the left knob, as happens on racing bikes.

The rider’s footpegs made of high quality anodized aluminum alloy that maintains its original appearance over time. In addition to being a pleasure for the view, these platforms allow the rider to find the position that best suits his body and driving style. They are equipped with carbon fiber paratals and articulated brake and gearbox pedals to minimize the risk of breakage in case of slipage and designed to quickly switch from the traditional gearbox configuration to the reverse gearbox configuration.

Like the Panigale V4 S, the SP version is also equipped with an Öhlins NIX-30 fork, Öhlins TTX36 rear shock absorber and Öhlins steering shock controlled by the second generation Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 system. The main advantages offered by this system concern the possibility offered to the rider to customize the intensity of intervention on the suspension according to the individual driving events (braking, curved travel, acceleration), to modify the operating parameters of the individual hardware components, also allow to have a softer basic setting and therefore easier and less demanding than that of traditional suspensions , instantly stiffening only when needed.

Electronics

The Panigale V4 SP is equipped with a state-of-the-art electronic package, based on the use of the Bosch 6-axis inertial platform that includes controls designed to manage all phases of driving. The electronic equipment includes:

• ABS Cornering Bosch EVO
• Ducati Traction Control EVO 3 (DTC EVO 3)
• Ducati Slide Control (DSC)
• Ducati Wheelie Control EVO (DWC EVO)
• Ducati Power Launch (DPL)
• Ducati Quick Shift up/down EVO 2 (DQS EVO 2)
• Engine Brake Control EVO (EBC EVO)
• Ducati Electronic Suspension EVO (DES EVO)

The operating parameters of each control are managed through the new Riding Mode strategy introduced on the Panigale V4 MY2021 range that allows the rider to make quick comparisons between two different configurations on the track to define the best set-up. The Riding Mode Race has in fact been split into two specific mappings for track use (Race A and Race B), now freely comparable in the individual parameters, which join the already existing Sports and Street.

The Panigale V4 SP also incorporates the new strategy, developed for MY2021, contained in the Ducati Traction Control EVO 3 (DTC EVO 3) that intervenes in the phase of reopening gas at the center of the curve with the aim of gently managing the recovery of games of the Desmosedici Stradale avoiding the peak thrust that can be having to recover completed games, so as to make even easier and predictable the acceleration coming out of the curve.

At the turn exit, when taking over the gas, it can normally happen that at the end of the recovery phase of the transmission games, there is an unwanted and unforeseen slippage of the rear wheel due to the peak acceleration of the crankshaft, which disturbs the driver when he is dosing the reopening of the accelerator.

The new software predictively adjusts the torque delivered, calibrating the angular acceleration of the crankshaft to make the game recovery phase smooth. This results in a more neutral behavior at the corner output with a better driving feeling for the rider.

The new strategy is active in all levels of the DTC indicated for dry track (levels 1 to 4) and in that for wet track with “rain” tires (level 7).

All the information necessary for driving is displayed by the 5″ full-TFT high-resolution color dashboard (about 187 PPI – 800X480 – RGB), which through an intuitive interface also allows you to adjust the settings of the individual controls.

The Panigale V4 SP is equipped with the Ducati Data Analyser+ kit (DDA+) with GPS module. The Ducati Data Analyser+ (DDA+) is a telemetry system, comparable to those used in competitions, which consists of a can line data acquisition device, and an analysis software for Windows and Mac PCs inspired by professional applications.

The device stores vehicle usage parameters such as trajectories, RPM, gear, butterfly opening angle, engine revolutions, front brake pressure, DTC etc. and geololocalizes them on the track. Once disconnected from the bike and inserted into the USB port of the computer, the software allows you to load the different channels acquired and analyze your performance on the track.