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Crowds Celebrate Ducati's MotoGP Triumph In Bologna

Over 30,000 fans gathered in Bologna's city centre to participate to Ducati's celebrations.

More than 30,000 fans met in the historic centre of Bologna on December 2nd to celebrate Ducati’s World MotoGP title victory. Ducati fans and enthusiasts came from all over Italy and abroad to visit the factory and the museum, which were open to the public all weekend, while groups of motorcyclists paraded through the city centre.

Casey Stoner together with team mate Loris Capirossi, secured Ducati's first manufacturer world champion title. Stoner, 22, conquered the World Champion title at Japan’s Grand Prix already in September. Only the American Freddie Spencer has been champion of the sport's top class at a younger age, and he was only 84 days Stoner's junior when he won the 500cc title in 1983. It is the Italian manufacturer's first MotoGP title and they are the first non-Japanese team to take the premier title since MV Agusta won the 500cc championship in 1974.

During the celebration in Bologna, Ducati Motor Holding CEO, Gabriele Del Torchio, said: “This is a truly fantastic day. A square full of people like this needs no comment, and I don’t think there has ever been a greater demonstration of affection and warmth for Ducati than this. Our clubs and thousands of Ducatisti have travelled from all over the world to be here and to celebrate this incredible world title with us. It is a really great day for Ducati and it helps us feel the love of all of our fans. After 34 years the world MotoGP title has returned to Italy and to ‘motorland’ Bologna.”

[Gabriele Del Torchio]

The programme of entertainment featured the Ducati Corse Team with its champions - the Y2K Women’s team, 2007 Superstock World Champion Niccolò Canepa, double World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss and triple GP champion Loris Capirossi. World champion Casey Stoner was unable to be present at the celebrations after falling while testing his motorcycle in Jerez, but he sent a video from Australia, where he is currently undergoing treatment for his damaged shoulder ligaments.

Official Ducati MotoGP test-rider Vittoriano Guareschi burst onto the stage with the title-winning Desmosedici GP7 machine to be greeted by the Bologna fans, and they were then surrounded by the team and management, engineers, technicians and mechanics, led by Claudio Domenicali (Ducati Corse CEO), Filippo Preziosi (Director General) and Livio Suppo (MotoGP Project Leader) “2007 has been a really crazy year and we needed a day like today to celebrate everything” declared Claudio Domenicali. “I believe that being here, in the heart of the city, all together, the company and its fans, is the best possible way for Ducati, whose driving force is its passion, to celebrate this title”.

In the morning the MotoGP team was received by the Mayor of Bologna Sergio Cofferati who bestowed on Ducati the “Nettuno d’Oro” award, not only for its results on the track but also as a sign of recognition for how the company is a perfectly integrated example of industry in the area.

Ducati’s managing director, Gabriele Del Torchio, commented: “We are truly excited by the results accomplished on racetracks all over the world. After 33 years of uninterrupted Japanese domination, Casey Stoner has won the MotoGP World Championship on the Ducati GP7, all three categories: riders, constructors and team. These results confirm an even stronger brand and our widening appeal to the market. This is the best confirmation of innovation quality and reliability of our products and the results reached by a cohesive and motivated team.”

[Loris Capirossi]

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles in seven market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport, Monster, Sport Touring, Multistrada SportClassic and the new Hypermotard. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American markets. Ducati has won fourteen of the last sixteen Workd Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. Since 2003 Ducati has also been taking part in the MotoGP World Championship. The Ducati Group employs 1.172 persons and has a turnover of 322.248.000€ (September 2007). Gabriele Del Torchio, upon beeing appointed as new CEO on 21 May 2007, declared that “Ducati’s primary goal would be to develop the distinctiveness of its products capitalizing on quality, reliability and technical innovation”.