The worlds biggest motorcycle show, the EICMA ( Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori) takes place in Milan, Italy, in November every year.

And this years event, which concludes on Monday next week, seems to be a huge success even by EICMAs own lofty standards. The usual suspects are all there - Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Ducati, MV Agusta, all Piaggio Group brands ( Moto Guzzi, Aprilia, Vespa, Gilera and others), Triumph, KTM and many others. And each of these motorcycle manufacturers is hell bent on outdoing the next, unveiling a host of hot, new bikes for 2012.

Here, FPJ present some of the most fastest, most powerful superbikes shown at the EICMA this year. And the best part is, many of these machines will also be available in India next year.

DUCATI

Ducati, which is now also officially present in the Indian market, unveiled their all- new top- of- the- line superbike at EICMA this year. The Ducati 1199 Panigale weighs a feathery 164kg and its 1200cc L- twin engine produces a mighty 195 horsepower, which give it the best power- to- weight ratio of any production sportsbike in the world. " The incredible new 1199 Panigale is the new benchmark in the sportbike arena. This has been the most ambitious project in Ducatis history and underlines our engineering excellence.

The motorcycle represents pure Italian style, the reference point for performance and a safety- enhanced, confidence- inspiring experience for our customers on road and track," said Gabriele Del Torchio, President of Ducati Motor Holding.

The 1199 Panigale comes loaded with high- tech electronics like anti- lock brakes, traction control and ride- by- wire throttle control. Possibly the fastest, most powerful bike in the world, the Panigale will be launched in India in 2012, with an estimated price tag of about Rs 30- 40 lakh!

SUZUKI

Suzuki has updated the legendary GSX- R1000 for 2012, making the bike lighter and more powerful and improving its chassis for even better high speed handling. The new GSXR also gets uprated Brembo brakes with monoblock callipers, and lighter pistons that allow the bikes 999cc fourcylinder engine to rev harder and faster than before. And finally, the 2012- spec Gixxer returns to a single- side 4- 2- 1 exhaust system, with a lightweight titanium silencer. For those looking for an intense, all- out superbike, the new GSX- R1000 will be available in India next year, and will carry an estimated price tag of about Rs 14 lakh.

KAWASAKI

The only Kawasaki motorcycle currently available in India is the Ninja 250, which is sold in the country through Bajajs network.

However, it is rumoured that Kawasaki is looking at a stronger presence in the fastgrowing market for sportsbikes in India, which could be good news for fans of the brand, especially if the new, 2012- spec Ninja ZX- 10R makes it to our shores next year. Kawasaki has unveiled the latest version of the hard- hitting Ninja at the EICMA show, and the bike is now available with anti- lock brakes and a revised traction control system.

The updated ZX- 10Rs inline- four makes about 190 horsepower and the 2012 version gets chrome- molybdenum camshafts, titanium valves and enhanced engine cooling, all of which combine to make one of the wildest, fastest motorcycles in the world. Bajaj is said to be evaluating the possibility of bringing in a much wider range of Kawasaki motorcycles to India in the near future, and we just hope the ZX- 10R is one of the machines which Bajaj decides to import and sell in the country. If the bike does come here, the price will be in the region of Rs 13- 14 lakh, given the duties levied on CBU imports.

BMW

BMW Motorrad ( the companys motorcycle division) has recently stepped into the Indian market and the S1000RR - widely considered to be one of the best handling, most high- tech superbikes in the world is already available in the country, with a stratospheric price tag thats upwards of Rs 20 lakh. However, thats not stopping well- off enthusiasts from buying the Uber- BMW and now, these enthusiasts have more reason to celebrate - BMW has unveiled the 2012- edition S1000RR, which will also come to India next year.

The revised S1000RR gets new colours, a tweaked engine and revised suspension settings, all of which will work towards making the bike faster than ever before. " The primary objectives were even greater riding precision and agility, a punchier power build- up, and more sensitive response," claims BMW, for the 2012 S1000RR. " Like its predecessor, the new RR knows no compromise and improvements made to the new S1000RR include handling, high- speed stability and engine performance," it adds. Indeed, with its revised chassis and 193- horsepower inline- four engine, we suppose the S1000RR should have no trouble keeping at the front of the superbike brat pack in 2012.

HONDA

Honda have updated the Fireblade for 2012 ( the current version sells in India for about Rs 13 lakh) and Hirofumi Fukunaga, the Honda engineer responsible for the revised Fireblade, says the new bike is significantly sportier and more fun to ride than previous versions.

The 2012- spec Fireblade benefits from revised, sharper styling, updated fuel- injection settings, smoother power delivery, a slipper clutch, second- generation HESD steering damper, 12- spoke cast- aluminium alloy wheels, C- ABS and a new multi- function LCD instrument panel that now includes lap timer, gear position indicator, tachometer and fourmode display. The 2012 'Blade also gets revised suspension, including an all- new rear shock from Showa, which is said to offer significant high speed handling advantages.

With 175 horsepower from its 999cc inline- four, the 'Blade is not the fastest or most powerful superbike in the litre- class segment, but it may as well be one of the best handling and, with its rider- friendly ergonomics, easy to ride. The new Fireblade is likely to be launched in India early next year, with an estimated price tag of Rs 13- 14 lakh.

YAMAHA

Yamaha have the 2012 YZF- R1 on display at the EICMA and while the bike isn't as radically new and high- tech as some of the litre- class competition, it still seems adequately fast and powerful to hold its own in the segment.

For 2012, the big news in the Yamaha camp is the addition of traction control and '50th Anniversary colours,'apart from which little else seems to have changed. Still, even if its a bit dated compared to the competition, lets not forget that the R1 is still powered by a 998cc inline- four that produces a massive 182 horsepower and 115Nm of torque.

" The new R1's traction control system reinforces the riders trust in the bikes abilities, enabling you to unleash its full potential at the flick of a switch," says Yamaha. " Equipped with a short- wheelbase Deltabox chassis, crossplane- crankshaft engine and high- tech electronic control systems, the breathtaking R1 is the embodiment of everything that we have learnt in MotoGP and WSB," the company says. We're sure the 2012 R1 will come to India early next year with an estimated price tag of Rs 13- 14 lakh.

APRILIA

A part of the Piaggio empire, Aprilia makes some of best- performing sportsbikes in the world and the company is looking at making significant inroads into the Indian market over the next few years.

And that is definitely good news for motorcycle enthusiasts in the country, because the Italian company makes machines like RSV4 Factory APRC - perhaps the coolest, most exotic ultra- high- performance superbike on the planet.

Aprilia showed an updated- for- 2012 RSV4 Factory APRC at the EICMA, with the bike getting new colour schemes, a revised engine management system and a tweaked, optimised Aprilia Performance Ride Control ( APRC) package with eightlevel traction control. Other updates to the RSV4 - on which Max Biaggi won the World Superbikes championship last year - include improved lubrication for its 65- degree V4 engine, closer spaced gears for better acceleration, and a new, lighter exhaust system. The new exhaust features an advanced valve management system to suit the bikes ride- by- wire mapping, for improved 'breathing'and efficiency throughout the engines rev range.

In addition to the above, theres the racing- spec, fully adjustable Öhlins fork and shock, Brembo brakes with radial monoblock callipers and a mixed type ( digital/ analogue) instrument panel, which is an integral and crucial part of the RSV4 Factory APRCs self- diagnosis system. " This is a full- fledged on- board computer, with a dot matrix display set against a minimalist, ultramodern and compact design. Its functions have been improved and are all accessible from three easy to use buttons," says Aprilia.

With 180 horsepower at 12,250rpm and 115Nm of torque at 10,000rpm from its 999cc V4, the 2012 RSV4 Factory remains one of the most powerful litre- class superbikes in the world. At 179 kilos dry, its not the lightest in its class, but with its host of high- tech electronics and superb chassis, it definitely is one of the best handling. The 2012 RSV4 Factory APRC may come to India sometime next year, and if it does, its likely to be the most expensive superbike available in the country.