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***Malcolm*** · 17-02-2015, 11:25 AM

The 2015 Ducati Team was presented today at the Ducati Auditorium in Borgo Panigale, and the new Desmosedici GP15, the bike with which factory riders Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone will take part in the 2015 MotoGP World Championship, was unveiled.

The event was conducted by Guido Meda, Italy’s long-time MotoGP TV commentator and Deputy Director of SKY Sport Italia.

The first to speak was Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, who commented on the atmosphere in Ducati Corse and the excellent results achieved by the Bologna-based company in 2014.

Claudio Domenicali:

“The spirit that I have seen during these last few months in Ducati Corse re-minds me of the same enthusiasm with which the MotoGP project got underway in 2003. The new GP15, which is really quite revolutionary in many of its concepts, best represents the pride and the desire to win of everyone in Ducati Corse, and whom I would really like to thank for their efforts. I personally followed the final phases of starting the engine on the dyno, the first tests, the perfor-mance checking of the new engine, the assembly of the bike and starting it for the first time and I witnessed an emotional feeling and extraordinary devotion. We are only at the start but I am sure that the results will soon reward our efforts. Ducati has just finished an excellent 2014, a year in which we recorded new record sales, delivering 45,100 bikes to customers, 2% more than 2013, and confirming for the fifth year in a row our positive growth trend. Racing has always formed part of our DNA, and returning to a role as protagonists would mean completing a global framework of growth. We can but look forward to 2015 with confidence, and it is for this reason that I wish the two Andreas and the entire team all the best for the new season.”

Domenicali was followed onto the stage by Luigi Dall’Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager, who spoke of the new GP15 project and the aims for 2015.

Luigi Dall’Igna:

“The Desmosedici GP15 that will make its debut in the next test in Malaysia is a completely new bike, different to the one we used two weeks ago in Sepang, even though certain aspects of the aerodynamics are quite similar. With the GP14.3 we have made some major progress with the software, which will be easy to switch over to the GP15, but also steps forward in the suspension, chassis and engine departments. The GP15 will start with the same settings as the GP14.3, but it will have many more possibilities for adjustment. Our aim this year is very ambitious, because we want to win at least one race. We know that it is an extremely tough objective, but we are used to accepting the most difficult of challenges. Last year we said that we wanted to reduce the gap to the winner to less than ten seconds. This was also an ambitious challenge, but we achieved it in the second half of the championship. Winning a race means finishing ahead of two giants like Honda and Yamaha and their four riders, who are for sure four of the strongest, but this in any case is our aim and we know we can count on Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone, who in my opinion are capable of fighting on equal terms with their adversaries.”

After unveiling the Desmosedici GP15 in its new colours, the two riders of the team spoke about their expectations for the 2015 championship.

Andrea Dovizioso:

“In a few days’ time we will be going to Malaysia for the second winter test ses-sion at Sepang and I can’t wait to test the new GP15. I am very happy with the improvements that we managed to achieve last year and so, with this new project, I can only be optimistic for the com-ing season. I think that the spirit and the desire to win that I see in Ducati are vitally important for all of us. I expect a lot of support from the Ducati fans this season: we have worked a lot and well in the last couple of years and now it’s time to reap the benefits.”

Andrea Iannone:

“I am very happy to form part of the Ducati Team, because it’s always been my dream to join the factory team. I already feel part of this family, and I have already established an excellent rapport with my team of technicians and mechanics, which enabled me to go immediately well with the Desmosedici GP14.3 in the recent tests at Sepang. Now we are back in action in Ma-laysia for the penultimate tests before the start of the season, and I’ll ride the GP15 for the first time, in the knowledge that at the start we’re going to have to work hard to make the bike competitive. In any case I am optimistic and I can’t wait to take to the track in a few days’ time.”

The presentation was broadcast in web streaming thanks to the technical support of Telecom Italia, offering media and fans worldwide the possibility to follow the event live.

In a few days’ time the Ducati Team will leave for Malaysia where, from 23 to 26 February, the second round of winter tests at Sepang will be taking place and where the GP15 will make its track debut.

Watch the video of the official presentation!

Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. – A Sole Shareholder Company

A Company subject to the Management and Coordination activities of AUDI AG

Founded in 1926, Ducati has been producing sport-inspired motorcycles since 1946. Today, their motorcycles are char-acterized by performance engines with Desmodromic valve actuation, innovative design and avant-garde technology. Covering several market segments, Ducati’s range of motorcycles is divided into model families which include: Diavel, Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, Scrambler, Streetfighter and Superbike. These authentic icons of “made in Italy”, to-gether with an extensive range of associated accessories and technical and lifestyle apparel, are distributed in over 80 countries around the world, with concentration on the European, North American and Asia-Pacific markets. In addition to the Bologna factory located in the Borgo Panigale area, Ducati has a plant in Thailand, which opened in 2011 and assembles motorcycles for the Asian market, and, since 2012, another in Brazil that assembles motorcycles for South America. In 2014 Ducati delivered 45,100 motorcycles to customers, an all-time company record.

Ducati competes in both the World Superbike and MotoGP World Championships. In Superbike Ducati has won 17 Man-ufacturers’ titles and 14 Riders’ titles and in 2011 passed the historic milestone of 300 race victories. Ducati have participated in MotoGP since 2003, winning both the Manufacturers’ and Riders’ titles in 2007.

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