When Ducati introduced the Ducati 916 in 1994, the motorcycling world was awestruck. After the functional styling of the 851 / 888 range the feminine swoops of the diminutive 916 instantly made every other motorcycle ugly. The Ducati 916 was simply gorgeous. Except for every single one they sold in Australia.
Ducshop Racing’s Jake Zemke earned two solid 4th place finishes in Round 2 of the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona Sportbike Series in the Big Kahuna Atlanta at Road Atlanta. After this round, Jake is firmly holding 5th place in the Championship with fifty-one points.
The Ducati Team travels to Spain this week for one of the most popular events on the world championship calendar, the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez de la Frontera. Last year’s rain-affected race saw Nicky Hayden climb the third step of the podium, while following a fall at the beginning of the eighth lap Valentino Rossi took out Casey Stoner, then mounted a charge through the pack to finish in fifth place.
South African Superbike racer Chris Leeson is campaigning a Ducati 1199 Panigale in the domestic series. He hit our radar last month when he took some of the first racing glory for the Ducati Panigale when he took pole position in its world racing debut. This time he shows how quickly you can dismantle a 1199 when you hit one of Kyalami’s notorious bumps.
If you needed further proof of how dull MotoGP has become in comparison to its poorer cousin, may we present as further evidence the racing during the 3rd round of the World Superbike Championship at Assen. Assisted by changeable weather that brought out the red flag in the first race, the racing was furious and hard fought. There was plenty for ducatisti to celebrate but the results were still unexpected.
Conditions were very mixed today at the TT Circuit of Assen where the third round of the World Superbike Championship is taking place this weekend. The Althea Racing team is ready for the challenge that bad weather may present, and will line up on race day with its two riders Carlos Checa and Davide Giugliano.
US T-Mobile has a new television commercial which features a hot woman on a Ducati. That ought to get the sales going. Pity it sounds like an inline 4.
Almost immediately following the formal announcement of the acquisition of Ducati by Audi comes news that AMG, the performance division of Mercedes, has terminated their partnership with Ducati.
Ducati’s test at Mugello was affected by the weather, forcing Nicky Hayden and official test rider Franco Battaini to spend more time in the garage than they did on the track.
As expected the official announcement of the acquisition of Ducati Motor Holdings by Audi Group has been made. The transaction is subject to the usual antitrust clearances. Ducati CEO Gabriele Del Torchio has stated he is confident that the Audi Group will allow Ducati to continue strengthening its position in markets around the world.
