2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale announced

Ducati has finally put an end to the speculation surrounding the name of its all-new MotoGP-inspired superbike. Superquadrata and Xtreme have been left by the wayside for the 2012 Ducati '1199 Panigale'.

The Panigale name has been taken from the Borgo Panigale region of Bologna in which Ducati has its manufacturing base. It is sometimes called “Motor Valley” because of the automotive companies that populate the district.

What else do we know about the new model? Ducati has released a teaser video, which seems to be the done thing these days, and though it doesn't show the bike in full view or provide any tech specs, it does deliver a few mottled images of the high performance, light-weight superbike (which should be enough to whet the appetites of the Ducatisti).

The Ducati Panigale allegedly outputs 195hp (143kW) and weighs 179kg wet. That light weight would potentially give it the best power-to-weight ratio of any production motorcycle available - besting the BMW S 1000 RR and even the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R.

Compare that 179kg weight to the BMW S 1000 RR's 204kg, or the ZX-12's 198kg. The Honda CBR1000RR weighs 199kg, the Yamaha R1 weighs 206kg... The list goes on. No other bike appears to be able to match the 1200cc V-twin's ultra-low weight, which should do wonders for its cornering speed. If proved to be correct, the new Ducati 1199 Panigale has the potential to be one of the sharpest scratchers available to the public.

Power will come from a new 'Superquadrata' or super square V-twin engine, which is likely to get chain-driven camshafts not belt-driven this time. This will allow a higher rev ceiling so we could be looking at a 200hp (147kW) machine.

Combine that power output with a kerb weight rumoured to be roughly 10kg less than 1198, and the resultant power-to-weight equation will be explosive.

The new name is pronounced "Pan-ee-gah-lee" says Ducati. The motorcycle "breaks with Ducati’s Superbike tradition by adding a name to its 1199cc engine capacity (referred to as eleven-nine-nine)" adds the Italian motorcycle maker.

Ducati has confirmed the new superbike will be displayed at the 2011 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan from November 10, and has been "Developed as a true sport bike with competition in its DNA," with Troy Bayliss on hand to help test the new bike.

According to its press statement, Ducati will field the 1199 Panigale in the 2012 FIM Superstock Championship but won't make its debut in World Superbike until 2013. This is "... in accordance with the factory’s development program."

To expound, here's the reasoning behind Ducati's two-stage introduction of the Panigale into motorsport. "[It] enables Ducati additional development for the Superbike version of the 1199 Panigale, appropriate to the more open regulations of the World Superbike category, and in addition help control costs for World Superbike teams who can continue to compete with a 2012 version of the 1198 with technical support from Ducati Engineers."

Stay tuned for more details on the 2012 Ducati Panigale, and check out the teaser video below for a sneak peek.