Category: Ducati

1. Ducati Stars line-up for festival of 1000 bikes

   Posted on 12:01am Friday 29th Jun 2012

   Some of Ducati’s greatest Past Masters will attend next week’s festival of 1000 bikes at Mallory Park.
    
   The Vintage Motorcycle Club will again host this classic track weekend at Mallory Park 0n 6/7/8 July with the popular Past Masters track sessions featuring prominently on the Sunday.
    
   The highlight of these sessions will be the Ducati World Superbike showcase featuring a collection of some of the biggest names from Ducati’s racing heritage. Ducati World Champions Carl Fogarty and Neil Hodgson headline an all star line-up that includes ex factory riders Marco Luchinelli, Dario Marchetti and Frankie Chilli.
    
   Chilli and Fogarty will share a track for the first time since the days of their fierce rivalry of the late 90’s and one of Ducati’s most revered champions, Paul Smart, will join them on a 750SS celebrating 40 years since his famous win at the Imola 200.
    
   It is not only the riders that will be the stars of the show as the Ducati session includes some of the brand’s historical race bikes. Neil Hodgson and Davide Tardozzi will be riding ex-factory 999R’s, Frankie Chili and Dario Marchetti will be riding ex factory 996’s, whilst Malcolm Wheeler will be riding his fully restored 750TT. Other notable entries are an ex-factory 888 belonging to John Hackett, a Ducati Supermono ridden by Alan Cathcart, a 750 F1 belonging to John Raybould and special edition 1199 S Panigale ridden by Carl Fogarty.
    
   Randy Mamola will be also be starring at the event, taking Riders for Health auction winners on laps of the circuit on the Ducati UK ‘Dual Seat’ 1198 SP.
   
   The full Ducati World Superbike Showcase list includes:
    
   ALAN CATHCART              DUCATI SUPERMONO
    
   PF "FRANKIE" CHILI         WORKS DUCATI 996
    
   CARL FOGARTY                DUCATI PANIGALE
    
   JOHN HACKETT                DUCATI 888
    
   NEIL HODGSON                DUCATI 999R
    
   MARCO LUCCHINELLI    DUCATI HYPERMOTARD
    
   DARIO MARCHETTI          DUCATI 996
    
   JOHN RAYBOULD            DUCATI 750F1
    
   PAUL SMART                     DUCATI 750SS
    
   DAVIDE TARDOZZI           DUCATI 999
    
   MALC WHEELER              DUCATI 750TT2

   The Ducati World Superbike showcase session takes place at 2.15pm on Sunday 8th July and there will be chances to meet the stars throughout the weekend including official signing &and appearance times on both Saturday and Sunday.

   For full listings and descriptions of the bikes visit:  www.vmcc.net/1000bikes

2. WDW2012 “by night” - Ducati racers and US-based band, "Ducati All Stars"

   Posted on 12:01am Wednesday 6th Jun 2012

   World Ducati Week 2012 “by night” is set to rock the Adriatic Riviera, with events on Thursday and Friday nights acting as a warm-up for a Saturday night spectacular when the heroes of Ducati MotoGP and World Superbike take to the stage in Piazzale Roma in Riccione, followed by US-based super group, the Ducati All Stars in concert.

   Running “by day” from 21-24 June at the Misano circuit, WDW2012 will continue “by night” with three evenings of red-hot Ducati entertainment ready for the thousands of Ducatisti arriving from all over the world. In what is shaping-up to be a record attendance for this year’s event entitled, “The Planet of the Champions”, Ducati have organised an action-packed program of enhanced nightlife.

   The fun starts Thursday night when a massive procession of motorcycles leaves the Misano circuit to ride to nearby Cattolica, where the Beach Barbecue and Rock Party will be ready. The famous Rustida Barbecue will be followed by live music from the Ducati Band, a rock band whose members are all Ducati employees from the factory in Bologna. The spectacular sea-front opening night will finish with a stunning lightshow and fireworks display, typical of the Riviera.

   On Friday night, the action moves to the centre of Misano where the Adriatic sea will provide the backdrop to a giant oval dirt track set-up for the Misano Speed Show. In the presence of "surprise guest stars”, stuntmen and riders of the Barrel Show will do battle in a series of adrenalin-fuelled performances.

   The grand finale for WDW2012, will undoubtedly be from 9pm Saturday night, when a giant stage in Piazzale Roma on Riccione’s exclusive sea-front provides the venue for Champions on Stage and the Ducati All Stars live in concert. The show will host the Ducati racers as they arrive directly from their Diavel Drag Races at the circuit earlier in the evening and include Ducati’s MotoGP riders, Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, the legendary triple World Superbike Champion, Troy Bayliss and reigning World Superbike Champion and Team Althea rider, Carlos Checa and teammate, Davide Giugliano. Team Effenbert Liberty Racing riders, Sylvain Guintoli, Jakub Smrz, Maxime Berger and Brett McCormick will also appear alongside Italian World Superbike riders, Niccolò Canepa and Lorenzo Zanetti. In a unique tribute to Ducati’s racing history, this incredible line-up of current world-level Ducati riders will also be joined by the man who kick-started Ducati’s L-Twin racing success 40 years ago, the legendary 1972 Imola 200 winner, Paul Smart.

   Ducati’s full-gas preparation for the passion-filled seventh edition of World Ducati Week will headline the US-based super group, the Ducati All Stars. The stunning line-up includes Steve Jones, founder-member of the Sex Pistols and the proud owner of a Ducati GT1000 and Multistrada 1200, Duff McKagan, former bass player of Guns & Roses and currently in love with the Diavel, and Streetfighter S rider, Franky Perez, singer and percussionist and undoubtedly one of the strongest voices of rock in Los Angeles. On guitar is Steve Stevens, Grammy Award winner for co-writing the Top Gun anthem and who began his career with Billy Idol and worked with Michael Jackson and Robert Palmer. Also on guitar, ex-The Cult and current Billy Idol guitarist, Billy Morris alongside Loaded drummer, Isaac Carpenter.

   With advance on-line ticket sales closing at wdw.ducati.com on 13 June, sales will recommence direct from the Misano circuit 18 June ready for Ducati’s massive World Ducati Week 2012.

   www.ducati.com
    

3. Official Ducati UK track Day – Donington Park

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 30th Apr 2012

   Ducati UK in association with Focused Events, will be organising the ultimate track day for Ducatisti at the World famous Donington Park Circuit.

   The Leicestershire Circuit, scene of Ducati’s first ever World Superbike win, will play host to the thunderous sound of Ducati’s in their natural playground. The track day will take place on Tuesday 31 July and will be on the full Donington GP Circuit.

   Ducati owners can book through their nearest dealer  or book online  

   The cost of the track day is £169 which includes breakfast and the chance to share the track with star riders such as Neil Hodgson, Niall Mackenzie and Steve Plater who will also be available for coaching. The track day is a Ducati only event and will be attended by Ducati UK staff and dealers who will be on hand to deal with any enquiries.

   For further information regarding Ducati products and events visit www.ducatiuk.com

   Notes:

   The decibel limit on the day is 105db.

   Coaching is free of charge.

   This a Ducati only event.

4. Ducati UK Roadshow dates announced for 2012

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 2nd Apr 2012

   The Ducati Roadshow will again be travelling the length and breadth of the country to bring the Ducati UK demonstrator fleet to a venue near you in 2012.

   The Ducati event truck and demonstrator fleet have proved popular attractions over the last few years with more dates than ever added to this year’s Roadshow tour.

    

   The demonstrator fleet showcases the 2012 range including the stunning 1199 Panigale. Although the 1199 Panigale has grabbed all the attention there a wide variety of bikes in the Ducati range to test. The Diavel is a must to test ride appealing to all types of riders, once ridden many riders will fall for the Diavel’s versatility and performance, whilst the Multistrada provides a combination of touring and sporting abilities.

    

   In addition to these popular bikes, 2012 sees the introduction of the Streetfighter 848, which will be available to test alongside the Monster 696, 796, 1100 Evo, Hypermotard 796 and 1100 Evo, the 848 Evo, 1199 Panigale, Diavel and Multistrada.

    

   To take a test ride at any of these events, riders must have a valid motorcycle licence (both parts required) and appropriate clothing and safety gear. Local dealership staff will be on hand to give expert technical and service advice and trained riders will there to guide all test rides.

    

   The Ducati UK event truck along with a fleet of up to 12 demonstrators and 8 display bikes will make its first visit to Cowick Barn in Bridgwater on the 31st March before visiting Abergavenny the following day and a further 12 venues throughout the summer and more to be confirmed.

    

   For the latest information on a Ducati Roadshow event near you, click on www.ducatiuk.com or contact 08456 718500 

5. Ducati release naked images of the 1199 Panigale Superbike

   Posted on 12:01am Friday 23rd Mar 2012

   Bologna, 22 March 2012 – Two highly-anticipated images of the “naked” 1199 Panigale have been released, illustrating Ducati’s innovative and courageous step forward in motorcycle design. Merging multiple parts into one compact and lightweight component, the extremely compact monocoque construction also integrates the airbox to become one of the key elements in reducing the new Superbike’s overall dry weight by an incredible 10kg (22lb) to a benchmark 164kg (361.5lb).

   Using the Superquadro engine as a stressed member of the chassis, the short and strong aluminium monocoque is made in die-cast aluminium and is responsible for 5kg (11lb) of the overall weight saving of the new design. The monocoque attaches to the cylinder heads of the new specially designed engine, protruding forward to house the steering head bearings and forming the airbox along the way, which is capped-off and sealed when the lightweight aluminium fuel tank is attached, again using one component to the fulfil the roles of two.

   While the cylinders remain true to Ducati’s signature 90° L-twin configuration, the new engine has rotated the top-end backwards around the crankshaft a further 6° to give more clearance on the front wheel and enable engineers to modify the front and rear weight bias. This also enables a front-end geometry of 24.5° of rake and 100mm (3.94in) of trail. Attaching directly to the rear of the engine, the new fully die-cast aluminium, single-sided swingarm is 39mm longer than the 1198, contributing to the increased the wheelbase of 1,437mm (56.6in) and weight distribution of the 1199 Panigale from 50/50 to 52% front and 48% rear with average-size rider onboard.

   With the exhaust system now relocated below the engine, the die-cast aluminium rear sub-frame is considerably lighter and also attaches directly to the Superquadro engine, while the super lightweight, magnesium front sub-frame attaches directly to the monocoque frame, providing secure support for the headlamp, instrumentation and fairing.  This combination of weight saving and centralisation of mass around these high front and rear sub-frame areas substantially contributes to overall vehicle agility.

   www.ducatiuk.com