Category: Ducati

1. Ducati announces its World Superbike program 2014

   Posted on 11:28am Friday 15th Nov 2013

   Official factory team to compete in 2014 World Superbike Championship
   
   •“Ducati Superbike Team” structured in collaboration with Feelracing
   •Ernesto Marinelli confirmed as Superbike Project Director. Serafino Foti to be Team Manager

   Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 15 November 2013 – Following the announcement of the official 2014 Ducati World Superbike riders, Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano, Ducati now defines its team structure in preparation to contest the 2014 World Superbike Championship series with the Ducati 1199 Panigale.

   Based in the racing department of the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale, Bologna, Italy, the new squad - officially named “Ducati Superbike Team” - will operate in collaboration with Feelracing, a formation with which Ducati achieved many past victories within the production-based race series. Already operational with an efficient and well trained structure, the team is ready and motivated to face the challenge of 2014.

   The Ducati Superbike Team will come under the direct responsibility of Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager) and Paolo Ciabatti, in his role as Ducati Corse Sporting Director. Ernesto Marinelli is confirmed as Superbike Project Director with Serafino Foti assuming the role of Team Manager.

2. EICMA 2013 visitors award brand new Ducati Monster 1200

   Posted on 9:27am Monday 11th Nov 2013

   Most Beautiful Bike of Show...

   Over 10,000 voters awarded the Ducati Monster 1200 “Most Beautiful Bike of Show” •Perfect debut for the third generation of an iconic Ducati model, which has sold over 275,000 •Massive public attendance closes EICMA 2013 on a positive note for Ducati and the market

   Rho (Milan, Italy) 10 November 2013 – Ducati’s brand new Monster 1200 has been voted “Most Beautiful Bike of Show” on the closing day of the EICMA 2013 International Motorcycle Show in Milan. The survey, organised by the Italian publication, Motociclismo, attracted over 10,000 participants and has become an annual tradition at the highly important show and a valuable and prestigious award.

   The Ducati Monster 1200 was the clear winner of the award followed by the MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800. The result rewards Ducati for its continuous development of new models with latest technologies, an initiative that has helped the company (a member of the Audi Group) to repeat the positive sales trend enjoyed in recent years, with 2013 on course to maintain the Italian manufacturer’s record sales set in 2012.

   The prestigious award was announced at the end of the show, when Corrado Capelli (President of ANCMA) Piero Bacchetti (President of Edisport Editoriale) and Massimo Bacchetti (Editor of Edisport Editoriale) presented the award to Ducati Motor Holding’s Director of Marketing, Diego Sgorbati.

   The “Most Beautiful Bike of Show” award closed an incredibly busy event which saw over 500,000 vistors view the many halls of exhibitors at Fiera di Milano-Rho, a positive signal to the industry and to a motorcycling market particularly affected by the global economic crisis. The public’s appreciation of Ducati’s latest offering closed an equally busy week for Ducati, which started in style on Monday with the unveiling of the Monster 1200 at the spectacular “Leonardo da Vinci” Science and Technology Museum in the centre of Milan.

   More than two decades and 275,000 sales after the Monster’s very first unveiling in Cologne, Ducati has introduced the iconic model’s third generation with the 2014 Monster 1200 and 1200 S. Powered by the formidable, Superbike-derived 1198 Testastretta 11° DS engine with an enhanced set-up for mid-range power delivery and rideability, the brand new flagship of the family presents an entirely new chassis and muscular design fully integrated with Ducati’s latest technologies.

   High-spec brakes, suspension, single-sided swingarm and lightweight wheels combine with Ducati’s best-yet ergonomics to offer the Italian manufacturer’s most attractive Monster ever. Super comfortable and introducing an innovative adjustable seat height, the model also combines 8-level traction control, 3-level ABS and 3-level Ride-by-Wire into Ducati’s user-friendly, press-button Riding Modes.

   Evoking the exciting memories of past models such as the powerhouse S4R and S4RS, the 2014 Monster 1200 also boasts an exclusive S model with 145hp and a ride-enhancing 92ft-lb of high-accelerating torque, wrapped beautifully in a spec-impressive chassis that tips the scales at 182kg (401lb) dry weight.

   While the Monster 1200 is presented in Ducati red with red frame and black wheels, the Monster 1200 S offers Ducati red with red frame and glossy black wheels in addition to the striking scheme of white with bronze-coloured frame and glossy black wheels. The Monster 1200 and 1200 S will become available in Ducati Dealerships from early 2014.

3. The new Ducati UK 899 Panigale arrives in UK dealerships

   Posted on 9:02am Wednesday 30th Oct 2013

   New 899 Panigale arrives in UK dealerships •Demonstrators available at all Ducati dealers throughout the UK.

   After recently making a spectacular UK debut at Brands Hatch, the 899 Panigale can now be seen for the first time at dealerships throughout the UK. Dealers will each take delivery of a demonstrator and the first customer bikes will arrive soon after.

   Ducati is passionately committed to further development of the Panigale concept both on the track and on the street and the 899 represents a “Supermid” version intended to be a method of entry into the world of premium performance.  With carefully designed rider-friendly features,  like  increased  seat  cushioning  and shorter final drive gearing for enhanced mid-range rideability, the new model achieves a successful mix of authentic Italian performance with everyday usability thereby offering the very best of both worlds in absolute style.

   The  innovative  “monocoque”  frame  solution  and  the  new  899  “Superquadro”  L-twin  engine  uses  race-derived  electronics  to  continue  the  “bred  for  the  track  and  trained  for  the  road”  mentality.  With  the  click  of  a  button,  Ducati’s  Riding  Mode  concept  delivers  performance  with  enhanced  rider confidence by combining a number of class-leading technologies. The latest-generation sports ABS system, Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Quick-Shift (DQS), Ducati’s race-derived Engine Brake Control (EBC) and Ride-by-Wire (RbW) are now all programmed into seamless, electronic rider assistance. 

   Its brand new Superquadro engine features a revised bore and stroke for a broad power delivery, producing 148hp (109kW) with a torque of 73lb-ft (10.1kgm). The super-smooth power unit continues to be a fully stressed member of the innovative Panigale monocoque construction, achieving both an outstanding power-to-weight ratio and ride-enhancing agility with a dry weight of 169kg (372.5lb).

   The 899 Panigale will be priced at £12,495 and available in traditional Ducati red with black wheels or a stunning arctic white with red wheels. A TriOptions package is currently available at £139 per month with a deposit of 25% over a term of 37 months and an APR of 5.7%

   For further details on the new 899 Panigale and to locate your nearest dealer for a test ride visit www.ducatiuk.com

   The bike will make its UK show debut at Motorcycle live from the 23 November to the 1 December. For details and ticket information visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

4. Ducati announce 2014 World Superbike riders

   Posted on 8:44am Tuesday 29th Oct 2013

   Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano destined to race in Ducati colours for 2014 World Superbike season

   Riders and technicians to immediately start pre-season testing 30-31 October at Jerez

   Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 28 October 2013 – Following the announcement of the mutual decision to conclude early the partnership with Team Alstare, Ducati today confirm its participation in the 2014 World Superbike Championship and its agreement with the riders who will compete aboard the Ducati 1199 Panigale motorcycles.

   Welsh rider, Chaz Davies, and the Italian, Davide Giugliano, are both now officially confirmed to compete for the Italian manufacturer during the 2014 and 2015 World Superbike seasons. This is an important decision for Ducati, determined to bounce back after a year of disappointing results for the 1199 Panigale, which failed to deliver the results expected in World Superbike despite its considerable success in many national championships and the highly-competitive FIM Superstock Cup.

   The new Ducati Superbike riders will immediately join technicians of the Ducati development team to start work 30-31 October at Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), carrying out the first of three test sessions planned for the winter break.

   More detailed information concerning the organisation and management of the team will be available in the coming weeks.

   Rider profiles:

   Chaz Davies  was born 10 February, 1987 in Knighton, Wales (UK) and first started racing in minimoto in 1995, winning the championship title in this rookie category the following year and retaining it until 1998. From 2002-2006 he competed at World Championship level in the 125GP category, moving up to 250GP soon after. After additional experience in the AMA championship he was selected to take part in the World Supersport Championship and in 2011 became World Supersport Champion. The following year he moved up to World Superbike, a category in which he scored his first victory in 2012 and three more in 2013.

   Davide Giugliano was born in Rome on 28 October, 1989 and started his racing career in 2005 by competing in the European Superstock 600 championship, finishing third in the championship the following year. After a year in the World Supersport Championship he switched to FIM Superstock 1000 Cup and in 2011 rode the Ducati 1098 R to championship victory competing for the Althea Racing team. Giugliano made his Superbike debut in 2011, riding as a wildcard at Portimão immediately after clinching the Superstock Cup title. In 2012 he became an official rider for the Genesio Bevilacqua team alongside Carlos Checa, taking two podiums and closing the season 10th overall. In 2013, he achieved one pole position and two more podiums in the World Superbike series, finishing the championship in 6th position.

    

      

5. Ducati and Alstare to terminate partnership

   Posted on 7:39am Saturday 26th Oct 2013

   The decision was taken in common agreement after a meeting in Borgo Panigale, Bologna
   •Early partnership termination due to global economic downturn challenging Team Alstare’s 2014 expenses
   •Ducati confirms its participation in the 2014 World Superbike Championship with plans and riders to be confirmed in the coming days

   Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 25 October 2013 – By common agreement, Ducati and Alstare have decided to terminate their partnership, which started in November 2012. Ducati and Team Alstare have reached the end of a very difficult season unable to achieve the desired results, despite the effort, commitment and resources applied by both parties.

   The partnership between the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer and Team Alstare was expected to continue in 2014, however, the current economic climate and subsequent withdrawal of support by one of Alstare’s main partners, has dictated that the Belgian team must downsize its future plans.

   In a meeting held at the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale, Bologna, Francis Batta and the Ducati management decided the best course of action would be an early termination of the agreement before the start of the 2014 season.

   “I am extremely sorry that an operation that had started on such a positive note had to be concluded before its time without achieving the results we were aiming for,” said Ernesto Marinelli, Ducati SBK Project Manager. “This was a very difficult year in terms of sports performance, but I am convinced that it nevertheless made us both grow and lay solid foundations for our future development and improvement. In these months together, I experienced the constant professionalism and expertise of everyone at Team Alstare, and I hope to be able to work with them again in the future. My special thanks, both in my personal capacity and on behalf of the whole company, go to Francis for the effort he has put in this year – as he always has throughout his career.”

   “I am very sad because this challenge, which began last November, was very important for me as a fresh start after missing one year,” said Francis Batta Owner of Team Alstare. “Working with Ducati was incredibly thrilling, although unfortunately, we failed to achieve the results we had set ourselves. The 2013 racing season has been incredibly hard for us, and being unable to start from a solid position in 2014, I would rather not take risks that might compromise our ability to complete the season. I would like to thank Ducati for trusting me and I wish them all the success that they deserve."

   Ducati has confirmed that it will take part in the Superbike World Championship next season, with 2014 riders and racing plans to be announced in the coming days.