Recession be damned, 2012 looks to be one of the most highly anticipated years in the motorcycle industry in years. From the looks of things it would appear as though the bottom of the economic turmoil is behind us.

Ducati released official information about the new game-changing powerplant, dubbed the "Superquadro" in anticipation of the model's unveiling at EICMA next month.

With the world launch of the Panigale superbike at the EICMA show in Milan still a month away, Ducati filled the interim with an international press launch of the 2012 848 Streetfighter.

We're still a few months away from 2012, but Ducati looks to be taking hold of the title for most anticipated new bike of the year with the successor to the 1198, the company's flagship superbike - the 1199 Panigale.

The motorcycles that have made their way to dealerships in the last 12 months have been category-crushing and stunningly well developed. After riding everything this year, here's our selections of the best motorcycles of 2011.

The Monster 1100 is the latest bike in Ducati's lineup to receive the EVO up-spec treatment. With 246,483 Monsters sold since the model line's debut, creating a standard like the 1100 EVO seems a good way to kick off the 18th year of Monster production.

Would the wildly styled, category-defying Ducati Diavel possess the supreme handling, potent stopping force and hallmark L-Twin power that have been the underpinning characteristics of Ducati's sporting heritage? The short answer is yes - mostly.

The Ducati 1198 SP is beastly and suave, able to induce grins unlike anything else out there. And for those who can afford singular experiences, the SP will not disappoint. Gorgeous, soulful and devilishly brutal, the 1198SP is a very special motorcycle.

Now that Germany's Intermot show and Italy's EICMA exhibition are over, we've got a clear idea of the motorcycles that will be introduced over the next 12 months. We've whittled this list down to our 10 most anticipated bikes of 2011.

All right, let's come clean and admit this isn't really a review of Ducati's segment-busting new bike, the power-cruiser-esque Diavel. But from info recently gathered, we now have a clearer idea of the qualities of this controversial new Italian steed.