Category: Ducati

1. Carl Fogarty takes to the track for 899 Panigale debut

   Posted on 8:19am Monday 21st Oct 2013

   Four-time World Superbike champion wows Brands Hatch crowds in exciting on-track display

   World Superbike star and Ducati ambassador Carl Fogarty led the first ever UK laps for Ducati’s brand new ‘supermid’ 899 Panigale. The bike, which was unveiled for the first time just two weeks ago in Imola, took to the iconic Brands Hatch GP circuit for it’s first demonstration on British soil, with Fogarty leading round the 2013 Ducati TriOptions 848 Challenge champion Marty Nutt and runner up Jonathan Railton.

   Adding to the drama of the BSB Showdown finale, the trio of new machines was chased around the track by a police-liveried 1199 Panigale.  Despite its extra power, there was nothing the bigger bike could do to catch the agile 899 on the damp circuit, and several riders have already confirmed they will make the step up to 899 machinery for the Ducati TriOptions Cup in 2014.

   The 899 Panigale will be available in UK Ducati dealerships from next week. For further information and to find your nearest dealer visit www.ducatiuk.com

2. Ducati shines through the rain on dramatic British Superbike finals day

   Posted on 8:20am Sunday 20th Oct 2013

   Baiocco scores points in final two BSB races while incredible Superstock 1000 contest sees both Ducati riders in the top four.

   Ducati ended the 2013 British Superbike Championship season on a high this weekend at Brands Hatch with points-scoring finishes in both of Sunday’s BSB races and an impressive performance in the National Superstock 1000 class.

   Coming off the back of a sensational weekend at Silverstone for Matteo Baiocco and the Rapido Sport Racing Ducati team, the pressure was on to produce another good result around the challenging Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. Having missed the first free practice session on Friday, the Italian was on the back foot for the first part of the weekend. Come qualifying, however, the pace seen from the 1199 Panigale RS superbike last time out made a welcome return, and for the second race meeting in succession Baiocco progressed into the final qualifying session to secure tenth position on the grid for race one.

   A problem with the clutch meant that the reigning Italian Superbike champion couldn’t capitalise on his strong qualifying, and he slipped back to 17th over the first of three 18-lap contests this weekend.

   Race two on Sunday saw mixed conditions throw another layer of uncertainty into the mix, with riders opting for different tyre choices throughout the grid. Baiocco’s decision to run full wets paid off in the early stages, and he ran for a time as high up as fourth place. As the track dried, however, his pace dropped away, and he had to fight hard to maintain a points-scoring position, eventually crossing the line in 13th. The final race of the year saw full wet conditions, and from down in 18th on the grid Matteo once again had it all to do to score points. With great pace in the middle part of the race he was able to secure 15th, rounding out a progressive debut season in BSB with points finishes in both races on finals day.

   The two Ducati riders in the National Superstock 1000 class grabbed the headlines, as Tristan Palmer rode to his fourth podium of the season for Rapido Sport Racing and Robbie Brown rode brilliantly through the field to score his best result of 2013 in fourth for DMC Racing.

   In Friday’s dry qualifying session Palmer put his Panigale fifth on the grid, with a marked improvement in the dry for Brown putting him 15th. Sunday’s wet conditions then played into the hands of both riders, and as Tristan fought for the outright race win, 2012 Ducati 848 Challenge champion Robbie proved once again his prowess in challenging conditions. He charged through from 15th to finish just 0.294s from the podium positions setting the fastest lap of the race along the way.

   Palmer had led the race going onto the final lap, but just lost out going into Clearways for the final time. Second place for Palmer and a seasons-best fourth for Brown left both Ducati teams in high spirits going into the winter break, with more success surely on the cards for the Panigale in Superstock trim.

   Having seen the potential of the Ducati Panigale in the BSB, Millsport Racing, who have worked alongside Rapido Sport Racing this year, have announced their intentions to step up to compete in the main superbike class for 2014. The team is now looking to secure sufficient sponsorship to mount a serious championship challenge.

   Robbie Brown said: I can’t complain at that – I just wish I’d had a couple more laps and I know I could have won it! It’s great to finish on a high – we’ve made some real progress over the last few race meetings, and I wish it wasn’t the end of the season now. I’d like to say a big thanks to Ducati Manchester and everyone who’s supported us this year. Hopefully we can get the budget together and come back stronger next year.

   Tristan Palmer said: I pushed 100% to try and get the win but Jenkinson just got past on the last lap and there was nothing I could do. It’s great to get another podium for the team, and to have both Ducati’s right up there is good for everyone. I’ve enjoyed riding the Panigale for Rapido Sport Racing this year, and hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to challenge for the championship next season.

3. Ducati brand features in new ‘MONOPOLY Empire’ game

   Posted on 8:14am Friday 18th Oct 2013

   ...with miniature Ducati 1199 Panigale

     •Latest version of the world’s best-selling board game, MONOPOLY, now ready for release •New MONOPOLY board features 22 top brands, with Ducati the game’s sole Italian brand •Game tokens include a miniature Ducati 1199 Panigale

   Borgo Panigale (Bologna) 15 October, 2013 – Hasbro’s all-new MONOPOLY Empire features Ducati among 22 of the world’s most prestigious brands, offering players a whole new gaming experience in which they buy and sell the best-known names in business (instead of property) to "take over the empire" and win.

   Featured brands in the new MONOPOLY Empire include: Beats by Dr. Dre, Carnival, Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, eBay, Electronic Arts, Fender, Hasbro, Intel, JetBlue, McDonald’s, Nerf, Nestlé, Paramount Pictures, Samsung, Spotify, Transformers, Under Armour, Xbox, X Games Yahoo! and Ducati.

   Ducati represents the only Italian brand included in MONOPOLY Empire game, the prestigious Bologna-built motorcycle brand taking pride of place on the MONOPOLY board and occupying the same square previously assigned in the classic versions to those ultra-expensive icons of the MONOPOLY world, Mayfair (UK) and Boardwalk (USA).

   Ducati’s inclusion in the game underlines the strength of this unique motorcycle brand, which has become an ambassador of Italian-made quality and a global icon of excellence and success. Supporting Ducati’s technical excellence will now be more fun than ever and drive Ducati to further success on MONOPOLY’s gaming battlefield.

   Players move around the board using tokens that represent six of the brands included in the game: a  Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, a Ducati 1199 Panigale, a bottle of Coca-Cola, an Xbox controller, a Paramount Pictures clapperboard and the world-famous McDonald’s French fries.

   Drawing inspiration from the on-skyscraper advertising typical of all major cities, players display the brands they own on billboards upon their own empire tower. The first player to put their brand’s billboard advertising at the top of the tower wins the game, but unforeseen hazards such as a sudden push for dominance from competitors or a stock market collapse provides additional and realistic challenges. With the concept of property purchase and construction of houses an hotels discarded in the latest version, most players will be able to finish the new game in under 30 minutes.

   MONOPOLY is the world’s best-loved board game. It has been played by over 1 billion people in 111 countries. Played in the company of friends, or using the mobile or online versions, the MONOPOLY game experience can enjoyably be fitted into any lifestyle.

   Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A – An Audi Group Company

   Founded in 1926, Ducati has been producing sport-inspired motorcycles since 1946. Their motorcycles are characterised by “Desmodromic” performance engines, innovative design and avant-garde technology. Covering several market segments, Ducati's range of motorcycles are divided into model families which include: Diavel, Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, Streetfighter and Superbike.

   These authentic icons of “made in Italy” are sold in over 80 countries around the world, with concentration on the European, North-American and Asia Pacific markets. Ducati competes in both the World Superbike Championship and, with an official team, the World MotoGP Championship. In Superbike Ducati has won 17 Manufacturers' titles and 14 Riders' titles and in 2011 passed the historic milestone of 300 race victories. Ducati have participated in MotoGP since 2003, and took both the Manufacturers' and Riders' titles in 2007.

4. Ducati Superbike 899 Panigale to make UK debut at Brands Hatch

   Posted on 8:16am Tuesday 15th Oct 2013

   899 Panigale to make first public appearance on UK soil - Carl Fogarty to lead demonstration lap on 899 Panigale

   The highly-anticipated Ducati 899 Panigale makes its UK debut this weekend at Brands Hatch at the final round of the British Superbike Championship, giving the UK racing public an early glimpse of the latest Ducati Superbike.

   The 899 will be on display outside the Ducati hospitality which will be located behind the Pit Straight Grandstand. There will also be a selection of the latest model range to view and Ducati clothing available to purchase in the retail area adjacent to the hospitality unit.

   As well as a static display of the 899 Panigale, there will also be a chance to see the bike on track as four-times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty leads a demonstration lap of the Kent circuit on Sunday at midday. The 899 Panigale will be a familiar sight on UK tracks next year when it will line-up on the grid in the new Ducati TriOptons Cup as a support series for British Superbikes.

   This stunning 899 Panigale is intended to provide a new way to access the exclusive world of Ducati Superbikes and is described as a “Supermid” version of the award-winning 1199 Panigale. The 899 still provides the thrill of the flagship model but with the refined character of an everyday road bike.

   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). An 1199 silhouette underlines the family DNA, while the Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) and the fully integrated Riding Mode technologies of Ride-by-Wire, triple stage ABS, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Engine Brake Control (EBC) continue the benchmark ingenuity introduced with the new generation Superbike.

   The 899 Panigale will be available from November, priced a £12,495 in traditional Ducati red with black wheels or a stunning arctic white with red wheels.

   For further information on the 899 Panigale and the Ducati TriOptions Cup visit www.ducatiuk.com

5. Nutt seals championship title

   Posted on 7:59am Sunday 6th Oct 2013

   Marty Nutt secured the Ducati TriOptions 848 Challenge title in the final race of the season at Silverstone, holding off the late season surge from series rookie Jonathan Railton.

   The Ducati TriOptions 848 Challenge reached its exciting conclusion this weekend at Silverstone, as two riders came into the event battling for outright championship glory. Boast Plumbing’s Jonathan Railton trailed Ducati Coventry’s Marty Nutt by just 12 points coming into the weekend, and with 50 points up for grabs it was all still to play for.

   Qualifying saw Railton way back in 13th place for the first race on Saturday afternoon, however a lightning start saw him jump up to fifth by the end of the first lap. He looked to have the pace to lead the pack, and was battling for the lead with Dennis Hobbs by half race distance while Nutt was embroiled in a battle back in fifth place. With things looking set to provide a scintillating final showdown, Railton suffered a gearbox issue on his blue and white Ducati 848evo and dropped from second to sixth across the line. A late resurgence from Nutt saw him take second place behind Hobbs, and with that result the ball was put firmly in the court of the #77 rider going into the final contest.

   In perfect conditions the 21-bike grid lined up for Sunday’s Silverstone season finale, with championship leader Nutt on pole from Mike Edwards and Dennis Hobbs. It was the experienced Edwards and fast starting Leon Morris that got away at the front early on, with Nutt and Railton battling for fourth and fifth further back. A superb final race for inaugural 848 Challenge champion Darren Fry saw him right in the hunt over the eight lap sprint, eventually crossing the line third. Morris held on to take the win from Edwards, while Nutt rode a calculated final race to fourth, breaking his run of fifteen podium finishes but ensuring the 2013 title was his.

   Marty Nutt said:
   There have been a couple of races this season where I’ve been careful, sat back and thought about the championship, and it’s really paid off for us. We’ve already got an 899 Panigale order and it looks awesome! I can’t wait to get riding it with the number one on the front. A lot of these guys have finished strongly this year which has given them the drive to come back for more next year, and I can’t wait to get back out there with them.

   Leon Morris said:
   My season has been up and down – we struggled at the start, but the pace of the series this year is phenomenal. When I won in 2011 and likewise Robbie Brown last year, we weren’t exactly hanging about, but this year the guys have been consistently a second and a half quicker than before! I’ve tried my hardest all year and we’ve only come out with two wins, but it’s definitely nice to round the season off with a win. The level of the series has grown and grown, and it’s really different to win races. It’s a brilliant series – the bikes are fantastic but more than that we’ve grown into a family. We’ve had a great year, there’s a lot of respect out there between the riders, I’d like to give a big congratulations to John Hackett and Marty Nutt and I hope to be back again next year.

   Jonathan Railton said:
   The first part of the season couldn’t have gone any better – my confidence was sky high and I was really enjoying riding the Ducati. Half way through the season at Brands I was leading the race and had the front end go. It was one of those crashes where you don’t know exactly what happened which always knocks your confidence, and it’s been difficult since them. We got back on form at Assen with some great racing and another win. That’s what is great about these one make championships – the racing is really close and the Ducati 848 has been a brilliant bike to ride. Well done to Marty and all the front runners who have made it such a great series this year – it’d be great to be associated with Ducati again next year. I’d also like to say a big thanks to the whole Boast Plumbing team who have been there and helped me through all the ups and downs.

   The Ducati 848 will return to British Superbikes in 2014 alongside the new 899 Panigale to form the Ducati TriOptions Cup.

   For final Championship results click here