Category: Ducati

1. Ducati UK announce Neil Hodgson as Ducati 848 Challenge Ambassador

   Posted on 12:01am Wednesday 23rd Nov 2011

   Former British and World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson will take on the role of Ambassador with Ducati to promote and support the Ducati 848 Challenge.

   Hodgson, who won British and World Superbike Championships with Ducati will make a number of appearances at British Superbike rounds and is also scheduled to be at one of the overseas rounds such as World Ducati Week, 21st to 24th June in Misano. Neil will be on hand to give advice and mentoring to the 848 Challenge riders on and off track and pass on his knowledge of the circuits. As well as sharing his experience with the 848 Challenge riders, Neil will also be available to present trophies, media interviews and personal appearances and will be an invaluable presence in the paddock for both riders and fans alike.

   Ducati UK and Neil are working together to produce a package that will offer unique opportunities to younger and more established riders competing in the Championship. Ducati UK will announce further details in due course.

   Neil’s first Ducati 848 Challenge role will be a pre-season track day with the 848 Challenge riders where he will assist the teams and riders with advice and help riders shake off some pre-season rustiness.

   As well as his ambassadorial role for the 848 Challenge, Neil will attend Ducati UK events and dealer openings throughout the year and you will be able to meet him at the Ducati stand at Motorcycle Live.

   If you are interested in competing in the Ducati 848 Challenge then please contact:
   [email protected] or visit www.848challenge.co.uk

2. Ducati 1199 Panigale awarded “Most Beautiful Bike of Show”

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 14th Nov 2011

   Ducati’s newly-unveiled 1199 Panigale Superbike has been awarded the title “Most Beautiful Bike of Show” at the EICMA 69th International Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy.

   Over 13,800 passionate show visitors participated in the voting organised by Italian motorcycle publication, Motociclismo, with the stunning new Ducati 1199 Panigale attracting a massive 53.4% of votes, followed by the MV Agusta F3 with 17% and the Husqvarna Nuda 900R with 3%.

   The award was presented during the final day of the show, which  attracted almost half a million people to the vast Fiera di Milano exhibition centre throughout the six day event.  The ceremony took place in the presence of Pierfrancesco Caliari - General Secretary of Confindustria ANCMA/EICMA - Piero Bacchetti - President of Edisport Editoriale - and  Gianandrea Fabbro - Senior Designer from the Ducati Design Centre responsible for the incredible new machine.  The highly coveted “Most Beautiful Bike of Show” title is just reward for Ducati’s constant and innovative product development and coincides with the iconic Italian manufacturer’s announcement that 2011 will close with the best financial results in the company’s history.

   Designed and built in Borgo Panigale, Bologna, the award-winning motorcycle combines the most high tech, most powerful twin-cylinder production engine on the planet with an innovative monocoque chassis concept to deliver an astonishing 195hp from 164kg (361.5lb) of futuristic Italian thoroughbred. The highest production motorcycle power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios in the world are fitting trophies for the incredible results that Ducati have achieved and now set an extreme benchmark for the category.

   With the click of a button, Ducati’s Riding Mode concept delivers performance with enhanced rider confidence by combining seven class-leading technologies. The latest-generation sports ABS system, Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES), Ducati Quick-Shift (DQS), Ducati’s new race-derived Engine Brake Control (EBC) and Ride-by-Wire (RbW) are now all programmed into seamless, electronic rider assistance. Even the full colour Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display changes to suit the rider’s environment.

   State-of-the-art from the ground-up and melding latest technologies with exciting new family features, the 1199 Panigale is totally “Ducati” in every respect. Its no-compromise approach to sport design and stylish attention to incredibly fine detail presents authentic Italian performance at its purist. Bred for the track and trained for the road, the new Superbike is a true revolution of the species destined to influence the entire sportsbike environment, while further strengthening Ducati’s recent success.

   The EICMA show event marked the official introduction of the ground-breaking 1199 Panigale, 1199 Panigale S and flagship 1199 Panigale S Tricolore. The “Tricolore” model proudly wears the red, white and green of the Italian flag, underlining the title “Made in Italy” and coinciding with the celebrations of the country’s 150th anniversary of unification. All three models will be available from early 2012. 

3. Ducati UK launch 0% APR Finance on Monster 696/796

   Posted on 12:00am Friday 16th Sep 2011

   Ducati UK is pleased to announce a set of finance offers including 0% APR and low rate options over 24 and 36 months - deposits starting from 33% on the 24 month option, and 50% for the 36 month option.

   The Monster carries one of the most iconic names in motorcycling and the Monster 696 and 796 fully live up to the heritage.  Power outputs of 80hp and 87hp respectively, delivered with character from the L-twin engine is plenty to set the pulse running.  Famous Ducati handling plus the option of ABS braking keeps things nicely under control, making the Monster 696 and 796 ideal for novice and more experienced riders alike.

   The Monster 696 also features in the Ducati Learn to Ride programme, allowing new riders to take their first motorcycling steps with Ducati.

   For more details see www.ducatiuk.com or visit your dealer to arrange a test ride and discuss the available finance options.

4. Ducati Multistrada and Diavel awarded in 10 Best Bikes of 2011

   Posted on 12:00am Saturday 30th Jul 2011

   America’s top-selling and leading motorcycle magazine, Cycle World has announced its “10 Best Bikes of 2011” and among them awarded Italian manufacturer, Ducati, with “Best Open Streetbike” award for the Multistrada 1200 S Sport and “Best Cruiser” for the incredible new Diavel Carbon. 

   It is for the second successive year that the game-changing Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Sport has won the “Best Open Streetbike” award, underlining the incredible success of the innovative 4-bikes-in-1 concept that has made it Ducati’s top-selling model world-wide.

   Recognising the motorcycle’s design, Cycle World wrote:

   “For the second year running, Ducati’s Multistrada 1200 S Sport has proven that its do-anything design, awesome on and off-road performance and category-leading features deserve recognition… Its tall adventure-bike stature puts its pilot in a comfortable and commanding seating position. Even in standard form, without the Sport’s excellent electronically adjustable Öhlins suspension, Ducati Traction Control, ABS and multiple-power-mode, ride-by-wire fuel injection, this Italian V-Twin is a sure winner. But with these weapons at its disposal, the Multistrada 1200 S Sport is one of the most capable and potent all-around machines we’ve ever tested.”

   When unveiled at the Milan motorcycle show at the end of 2010, the Ducati Diavel represented a bold departure from the company’s sporting image, but the Bologna based manufacturer combined its sport technology and experience with elements of cruiser styling to present its own interpretation. This courageous, out-of-the-box thinking is something that has set Ducati aside from its competitors and enabled it to constantly redefine established sectors of the market.

   Cycle World celebrated the Diavel’s challenge to the industry and wrote:

   “Sure, you can go apehanger, floorboards or any number of more traditional routes in this most traditional of categories. Or you can say, Screw it! and let the focus groups focus on their navels. Ducati did just that, channelling the performance-minded spirit of classic American V-Twins like the Crocker and infusing it with garlic and other more modern powerful Italian spices (such as carbon fiber) to come up with one of the coolest, fastest, most fun motorcycles ever made, one that happens to be a “cruiser.”…it was impossible not to pick it as Best Cruiser.”

   This important recognition mirrors the current success of Ducati in the US, where the famous Bologna brand has turned crisis into opportunity, with exciting product responsible for increasing its first half-year sales by 18.1% compared to 2010. In a market which has actually retreated by 8.8%, this clearly underlines the value of the award-winning Ducati Diavel and Multistrada 1200 as well as the Hypermotard 796, Monster 696 and 796 models. With the new Monster 1100EVO about to arrive stateside, Ducati are highly confident of their continued performance in the very important US market .

5. Ducati 1198 ridden and signed by Valentino Rossi to be auctioned for Charity

   Posted on 1:00pm Friday 3rd Jun 2011

   Ducati UK is to auction the 1198 Valentino Rossi rode recently at Silverstone during the official launch of the new Silverstone Wing, with a donation from the sale being made to motorcycling’s favourite charity, Riders for Health.   

   On 17 May 2011, Valentino Rossi joined a host of motorsport champions from the past and present in an inauguration ceremony to open Silverstone’s state-of-the-art new Pit, Paddock and Conference complex – The Silverstone Wing. After the ceremony, Rossi, who missed riding at the British Moto GP last year due to injury, used the occasion to put in some practice laps on board a specially prepared 1198 SP.

   Unfortunately the bike soon developed technical problems and Ducati UK stepped in to supply a standard road registered 1198. The bike (still with its licence plate, indicators and mirrors attached) is normally used for customer demonstration rides but Rossi was able to complete 30 laps on the 1198 to familiarise himself with the Silverstone circuit ahead of the AirAsia British MotoGP.

   Rossi signed the 1198 as a thank you to Ducati UK and now the bike will auctioned at Silverstone auctions to help raise money for Riders for Health. The bike will be displayed at the Riders for Health Day of Champions on Thursday 9 June and then be moved to the auction on Saturday 11 June.

   This is a unique chance to own a piece of Ducati history and Rossi memorabilia.  It will attract collectors, bike and race enthusiasts alike and in turn will raise money for a worthwhile cause.

   The money donated by Ducati UK will help Riders for Health to mobilise health workers with reliable motorcycles and train them in basic maintenance so that they are able to provide a regular health care to even very remote villages.  To find out more about the work of Riders for Health, visit www.riders.org

   The auction takes place on Saturday 11th June at Silverstone Circuit at 5.30pm and will be held at the new The Wing building and pit complex during the MotoGP race weekend.

   If you cannot attend the auction telephone and commission bids are being accepted.

   For further information: