Ducati Motor Holding, a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles, today announced that it is re-locating its North American subsidiary from New Jersey to California, in a move to get closer to the center of the US motorcycle industry.
The North American market is a priority for Ducati and represented 23% of total revenues in 2001. The re-location signals the Company's determination to capitalize on the immense potential in California, already the largest market for Ducati in the US -- representing about 20% of US retail sales -- and is home to many of America's most important motorcycle manufacturers and media. A presence in California gives the Company access to a large, specialized talent pool, closer contact with opinion leaders, vicinity to major race tracks, and excellent weather conditions for dealer training, product tests and brand-building motorcycle events.
"The re-location is part of a program aimed at re-organizing operations in North America. Ducati is currently stream-lining its US-based business by out-sourcing the management of spare parts and the distribution of motorcycles, based on the proven success of the Company's business model," said Carlo Di Biagio, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding.
"Our move to California is a key strategic move towards creating a structure which will be able to unleash the huge potential for Ducati of the US market," said Joseph Piazza, CEO of Ducati North America. "We currently have a number of products which are proving to be a great success in California and beyond. In particular, we are excited about the popularity of the innovative, new fuel-injected Monster 620, which is bringing Italian design and style to city centers and twisty roads all over the country."
Ducati Prototype for MotoGP
April 1, 2002 - First Pictures of the New Ducati for MotoGP Championship - The Bike Will be Presented to the World's Press During the Italian GP at Mugello on May 30
Ducati, a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles, today announced the development of the Ducati prototype bike for the new MotoGP championship is continuing on schedule.
Wind-tunnel testing has been taking place over the past few months and an aerodynamic configuration offering extremely high performance levels has already been obtained, despite the shape undergoing constant development. The final version will only be defined after track tests and the intense wind-tunnel testing program have been completed.
"Thanks to the freedom our engineers were given in the design of a new bike and a new engine at the same time, we were able to apply the concept of integration to the full," declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse Managing Director, who is in charge of the MotoGP project. "In particular the engine has been designed in line with the demands of the bike, and everything in function of the position of the rider. The result is a very compact bike, one that has been created around the rider giving him maximum freedom of movement through corners as well as allowing him to take up an extremely aerodynamic straight-line position with minimum physical effort."
"Extensive 3D CAD design has allowed us to analyse the layout and perfect the interaction between every component in a virtual mock-up modelled around the shape of the rider, obtaining unprecedented integration between all components."
"No aspect has been neglected in such a demanding and important project for our company. We have therefore also given particular attention to the search for an extremely low aerodynamic drag, which we view as vitally important because regulations based on fuel consumption reward the most efficient designs. The excellent wind tunnel results have also been obtained thanks to the compact nature of the Desmosedici engine, which has enabled a bike to be designed around it with the rider placed in an aerodynamically efficient position."
The tubular steel trestle frame and the exhausts pipes under the tail fairing, together with the desmodromic system and the L-shaped layout of the engine, maintain intact some of the characteristics typical of Ducati's sportsbike models.
"The tubular trestle frame was a natural choice," continued Domenicali. "Our victories in the World Superbike Championship confirm that this is an excellent technical design. The MotoGP prototype however has been built around an innovative structure, which by exploiting the layout of the L-shaped Desmosedici engine to the full, uses it as a stress-bearing member and reaches the required levels of stiffness with a substantial reduction in frame weight and dimensions."
"The decision to place the exhausts under the tail, which gives the bike a 'family feeling,' in line with Ducati's road-going sportsbikes, was made above all because of its aerodynamic advantage."
"Thanks to the commitment of the team headed by Ducati Corse Technical Director Filippo Preziosi, everything is continuing according to plan, and today we are in a position to announce the date when the definitive version of the bike will be presented to the world's press," concluded Domenicali. "The bike launch will be Thursday 30 May, during the Italian GP at Mugello. Ducati fans will also have an exclusive opportunity to see the bike during WDW2000 (World Ducati Week, Misano Adriatico, June 14-16), the event held every two years that brings thousands of 'Ducatisti' from all over the world to Italy to celebrate with us their passion for our bikes."
Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. Ducati has won ten of the last twelve World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. The Company produces motorcycles in four market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport, Monster and SportTouring. The company's motorcycles are sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European and North American markets.
Ducati : 50 Golden Years Through the Pages of 'Motociclismo' Magazine
Ducati People : Exploring the Passion Behind This Legendary Marque
Ducati: Taglione and His World-Beating Motorcycles - Through five decades, Dr. Fabio Taglioni was the inspirational force behind the success of Ducati motorcycles on both road and track. This revealing new book explores Dr. Taglioni's radical visions as an engineer and how his designs made Ducati the most charismatic Italian motorcycle marque. Described are Taglioni's training, his early designs, his emergence with 1956 Swedish Grand Prix-winning 125cc bike, his long association with Mike Hailwood, his groundbreaking desmodromic road bikes, and his winning race bikes of the 1970s are all discussed, as are Ducati's financial difficulties in the 1980s. A fascinating insight into the impact of one man on the evolution of the motorcycle.