Category: Ducati

1. Ducati UK join forces with the California Superbike School for 2014

   Posted on 8:08am Thursday 6th Feb 2014

   Ducati UK to work in partnership with California Superbike School from 2014
   • School will use a mix of 1199 Panigale, 899 Panigale and Monster 1200
   • California Superbike School hosting 15 dates in UK using Ducati Motorcycles

   Ducati UK has come to an agreement to supply the UK branch of the California Superbike School with Ducati Motorcycles. The two companies have long been associated with each other through Superbike School Limited (SSL) the event division of California Superbike School. SSL has over a number of years been responsible for operating the Ducati UK Roadshow throughout the UK as well as a number of successful track events.

   The Silverstone circuit neighbours will begin their partnership immediately and Ducati UK will supply the school with the flagship 1199 Panigale, the new and highly acclaimed 899 Panigale and the soon to be launched Monster 1200. The bikes will be available to hire for students preferring not to use their own bikes and wishing to experience a Ducati on track and will also be used by the school instructors.

   The first opportunity for students to experience a Ducati on a California Superbike School day will be 27 April at the Stowe Circuit, Silverstone. The agreement is for the UK specifically and there will be a total of 15 California Superbike School dates in the UK this year to choose from.

   “We have worked with Superbike School Limited for a number of years and I have always been impressed with their professionalism and passion for what they do. Ducati considers rider training to be very important and in the UK we have supported the road based Bike Safe programme for some time and so it is a natural progression to support one of the leading exponents of track based advanced training. I am sure using a Ducati on the school will prove very popular amongst students and will expose many people to the thrill of riding a Ducati. We are certainly looking forward to this new venture.”

   Tim Maccabee, Managing Director, Ducati UK

   “I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with Ducati on the California Superbike School. I have been involved with Ducati for over 3 years with their Roadshows and I have become a big fan of the brand. Their range is one of the most technologically advanced on the market and the traction control and riding modes add an important element of safety to the school. Welcoming a premium brand such as Ducati to the California Superbike School can only encourage more people to join us in honing their skills.”

   Richard (Badger) Brown, Executive Director and Rider Coach, California Superbike School

   For information on the California Superbike School or to book online visit www.superbikeschool.co.uk/ and to view the Ducati model range visit www.ducatiuk.com

   California Superbike School – Superbike School Limited

   Founded by the legendary Keith Code in 1980, the California Superbike School offers a step-by-step method of technique oriented rider training in the art of cornering motorcycles. The California Superbike School operates in the USA, Australia and the UK. The UK branch was founded in 1999 and has since gone on to teach many thousands of pupils including regional, national and World Champions.

2. Ducati Dream Tour 2014 – Nine weekend tours to ride a Ducati in Italy

   Posted on 8:10am Saturday 25th Jan 2014

   Online subscription for the Ducati Dream Tour 2014 to start from 27 January
   
   • Spectacular weekend tours to experience the Tuscany-Emilia Apennines on a Ducati
   • Dates include a “Ducati Dream Tour special package” combining World Ducati Week 2014

   Borgo Panigale (Bologna), 24 January 2014 – Ducati announces the 2014 edition of the Ducati Dream Tour, a series of factory-organised 3-day tours through the twisting landscape of the Tuscany-Emilia Apennines. Riding Ducati’s latest motorcycles, each trip will include a guided tour of the Ducati factory and museum, with one additional “special package” tour dedicated to the long-awaited World Ducati Week 2014, the international gathering of Ducatisti being held in Misano 18-20 July.

   Available online in the Experience and Ducati Travels section of Ducati.com from 27 January, each Ducati Dream Tour presents a thrilling itinerary that passes through some of Italy’s most stunning landscapes, guided by the highly experienced former Paris-Dakar competitor, Beppe Gualini, and his skilled team of professional test-riders. Their route is specially designed to ensure the very best enjoyment of the region of Emilia and the superb riding experience provided by the exciting Ducati motorcycles.

   The Ducati models available in the tour package include the brand new for 2014 Monster 1200, the Monster 796, the Multistrada 1200 S Touring, the Diavel, Hypermotard and Hyperstrada.

   Each Ducati Dream Tour will span a long weekend, starting on Friday with a late-morning rendezvous at the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale, Bologna, Italy for registration and lunch, followed by a guided tour of the factory and museum to provide a fascinating prelude to a weekend of pure Ducati pleasure. All participants will be carefully looked after by a dedicated tour team, managing everything from luggage transfer in the support vehicle to the hand-over of the Ducati motorcycles. The first day ends with an overnight stay at the splendid Hotel Resort Palazzo in Varignana, located in cool, verdant hills that provide the perfect place to enjoy the fabulous local food and wine in addition to the magnificent spa inside the resort.

   The next morning, the Resort Palazzo of Varignana will be the starting-point for the longest and most captivating day of the tour. Saturday’s route winds through over 270km of excellent motorcycling roads to Mugello, home to one of the most beautiful race circuits in Italy and the theatre of breathtaking battles in the MotoGP world championships and a regular testing ground for Ducati. Sunday’s itinerary covers a further 250km of the spectacular route, returning the Ducati Dream Tour riders to Bologna later in the afternoon.

   With this year’s World Ducati Week event attracting Ducatisti from all over the world, Ducati is offering an attractive package that combines the incredible event with the Ducati Dream Tour. This tour provides the classic Dream Tour itinerary in addition to a ticket to WDW2014. For this tour only, the Ducati Dream Tour will take place from Wednesday to Friday, with the tour continuing on to the Misano Adriatico circuit where participants will enjoy the electrifying weekend of WDW2014, the biggest Ducati gathering in the world.

   Ducati Dream Tours are specially tailored for those who would enjoy a fascinating two-wheeled weekend exploring the traditional and historic Tuscany-Emilia Apennines. They are available alongside many other Ducati travel packages, designed in association with highly experienced travel partners, published on Ducati.com and listed within the “Experience / Ducati Travels section”.

   Ducati Dream Tour 2014 calendar

   May

   16-18

   23-25

   June

   6-8

   20-22

   27-29

   July

   16-20 Special Dream Tour & WDW 2014 package

   25-27

   September

   19-21

   26-28

3. Ducati Riding Experience 2014 dates announced and enrolment ready to open

   Posted on 8:10am Friday 20th Dec 2013

   Full list of 2014 DRE dates now released
   • Brand new Ducati 899 Panigale and Monster 1200 models introduced to the program
   • DRE 2014 enrolment to open online 16 December, 2013

   The Ducati Riding Experience is set to continue in 2014, with the 11th edition of the Italian manufacturer’s highly successful riding school opening its enrolment online at Ducati.com on 16 December 2013.

   Participants can look forward to using some of Ducati’s latest models, including the brand new, 148hp 899 Panigale Superbike for Racing 1 & 2 courses or the new Monster 1200 for the Intermediate course, Ducati’s latest generation Monster awarded “Most Beautiful Motorcycle of the Show” when unveiled at the EICMA show in Milan in November.

   As usual, DRE has been carefully structured to cover all riding levels of motorcycle experience, from absolute beginners taking their very first steps on two-wheels in the Basic course, to the Master Racing and Troy Bayliss Academy courses for regular track-day experts wishing to further perfect their talent.

    

   For DRE 2014, the Racing 1 and Master Racing courses take on a new format intended to provide participants with enhanced instruction for fast and safe riding with a dedicated classroom session prior to the track experience. To achieve this new format, the courses will spread over two days, during which Racing 1 participants will start the first afternoon with a briefing and theoretical exercises designed to lay a firm foundation of knowledge before practical tuition on the track. For the more advanced Master Racing course, participants will have a highly informative classroom session with Ducati’s official test-rider, Alessandro Valia, and Chief Instructor, Dario Marchetti, before taking to the track aboard Ducati’s impressive 1199 Panigale S Superbikes.

   Participants of the highly prestigious Troy Bayliss Academy courses will be instructed in groups of five by none other than the triple World Superbike Champion himself. Academy students will ride the Ducati 1199 Panigale S further equipped with a Termignoni exhaust system.

   Racing 2 courses, which remain unchanged, are intended for riders who already have track experience and wish to develop it further. In addition to many other details, they will work on areas such as increasing corner turn-in and mid-corner speeds and on how fully capitalising on every last hp of acceleration can achieve a smoother, more fluid and confidence-inspiring riding style.

   Enrolment for Racing 1 and 2 courses is limited to 50 students, divided into efficient learning groups of just five, whereas the Master Racing course is open to just 12 participants, divided into groups of three. While all groups are guided by an expert instructor, all track-riding participants must be holders of Class A driving licenses without engine size limitation.

   For non-track riders, DRE 2014 also offers a fully comprehensive range of courses from Basic to Intermediate. While learners in the Basic course will use the Ducati Monster 796, participants of the Intermediate course can improve their existing road skills to enhance their overall safety using Ducati’s own versatile Multistrada 1200 S, Hypermotard and Hyperstrada models and, new for 2014, the Monster 1200 with excellent user-friendliness and the enhanced ergonomics of an innovative adjustable seat height.

   Within the cost of the courses, all DRE participants will be provided with a motorcycle and instructor as well as a welcome kit and lunch, while those who need to rent riding gear can do so during the online enrolment.

   The team of highly qualified instructors is coordinated by DRE Technical Director and Chief Instructor, Dario Marchetti, and Alessandro Valia (Factory Test Rider and Chief Instructor of the Master Racing course). In addition to many more successful and celebrated riders, the list of DRE instructors include top names such as Troy Bayliss (2001, 2006 & 2008 World Superbike Champion and MotoGP race winner), Paolo Casoli (1997 World Supersport Champion), Manuel Poggiali (2001 125cc World Champion & 2003 250cc World Champion), Andrew Pitt (2001 & 2008 World Supersport Champion & World Superbike & MotoGP competitor) and Niccolò Canepa (2007 Superstock FIM Cup Champion & World Superbike & MotoGP competitor).

   With DRE, Ducati will continue its close collaboration with FMI, ensuring constant improvement of teaching protocols and standards of excellence on all courses. Additional support will also be provided by official Ducati supplier Bosch, further establishing the successful technical partnership between Ducati and this premier German brand.

   Ducati Riding Experience 2014 calendar

   28-29 Apr Adria Racing 1 course

   29 Apr Adria Intermediate course

   29-30 Apr Adria Racing 1 course

   30 Apr Adria Base & Intermediate courses

    

   13-14 May Mugello Master Racing course

   14 May Mugello Intermediate, Racing 2 & Troy Bayliss Academy courses

   14-15 May Mugello Master Racing course

   15 May Mugello Base, Intermediate, Racing 2 & Troy Bayliss Academy courses

   09 Sep Mugello Intermediate & Racing 2 courses

   09-10 Sep Mugello Master Racing course

   10 Sep Mugello Base, Intermediate & Racing 2 courses

   With more dates expected to be added, visit Ducati.com to remain updated on DRE 2014.

   Ducati Riding Experience 2014 motorcycles

   Base course: Monster 796

   Intermediate course:

   Monster 1200

   Multistrada 1200 S

   Hypermotard

   Hyperstrada

   Racing 1 & 2 course: 899 Panigale

   Master Racing & Academy courses: 1199 Panigale S

4. HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge visits the Ducati stand at Motorcycle Live

   Posted on 9:30am Tuesday 3rd Dec 2013

   Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, made a special visit to the Ducati stand on Saturday, 30 November, as part of his official trip to the Motorcycle Live event at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England.

   Tim Maccabee, Managing Director, Ducati UK Ltd hosted the Royal guest, introducing him to the features of the brand new Ducati Monster 1200, in addition to the Ducati Diavel, which the Duke climbed aboard when prompted by a member of the public who shouted: "Go on, get on it!"

   With a smile, Prince William duly pleased the crowd by trying the Diavel for size, before meeting former Ducati British Superbike Champion, Shane Byrne, with whom he shared some comments on the enjoyment of riding Ducati Motorcycles.

   The Duke also took the opportunity of his visit to have a closer look at the new Ducati 1199 Superleggera, which was making its UK debut at the packed show. The limited edition model of only 500 represents the most exclusive and desirable Ducati in the range and with components in magnesium, carbon fibre, and titanium, the model boasts the highest power-to-weight ratio of any production motorcycle in history.

   “It was a real pleasure and an honour to host HRH Prince William on our stand,” commented Tim Maccabee. “He was pleased to take a look around and certainly seemed to enjoy sitting on the different models. He commented on how light the Diavel was, but I think he favoured the 1199 Superleggera.”

   The visit was completed with a look at the new Ducati 899 Panigale and an overview of the Ducati TriOptions Cup series in which the model will compete, announced for 2014 as a support race within the British Superbike Championship.

5. New managerial appointments at Ducati Motor Holding

   Posted on 10:21am Thursday 28th Nov 2013

   Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 27 November 2013 – Newly appointed managerial positions at Ducati Motor Holding see Cristiano Silei now head of Sales & Marketing, while Diego Sgorbati becomes head of Motorcycle Related Products.

   The decision to establish two new managerial areas within the Ducati Motor Holding organisation has been driven by the constant growth and development of the iconic motorcycle manufacturer, combined with further upward momentum of the brand’s customer service.

   Cristiano Silei (previously Vice President of Sales) is now appointed Vice President of Sales & Marketing, in charge of creating a unified and cohesive strategy with renewed impetus. He will be supported by Roberto Righi (previously Director of Distributor Sales) who now takes on the new position of Director of Sales and to whom the Ducati sales network will now report.

   Diego Sgorbati is appointed Director of Motorcycle Related Products, responsible for ensuring a comprehensive Spare Parts, Accessory and Apparel range in addition to overseeing the Licensed Products & Services business unit. Within this business unit, Alessandro Cicognani (previously Head of Sponsorship) now becomes Director of Licensing & Corporate Partnerships.