Ducati Blog

Alright, let’s simplify this bitch up.

As we all know, the Ducati MotoGP team is not doing very well this season, even with the greatest-of-all-time Valentino Rossi as their #1 rider. To spare themselves from further shame, they are doing everything they can to produce worthwhile results—and this is one major step towards just that.

This weekend at the Assen TT, Rossi is going to race with a semi-new bike. The bike will sport a new chassis, a modified motor, and and the Ducati Seamless Transmission (DST) gearbox. Now, those are all parts from next year’s bike, the Desmosedici GP12. However, because of next year’s new 1000cc regulations (exciting!), they obviously can’t call the upgraded bike as the GP12, so instead, they’ve chosen to call it the Desmosedici GP11.1 (seriously).

Of course Nicky will not be left behind with no upgrades. He will race at Assen with a semi-upgraded stiffer frame which they’re calling the Step-2. Don’t think for a second there that the lack of upgrades is because Nicky is #2, the lack of new parts is because Hayden has used up 4 motors already (Rossi just 3; regulations permit only 5). But at Laguna (July 24), Nicky can safely use another motor, ergo, new parts.

As for the “upgraded” parts, we all know Ducati uses a carbon chassis, but in addition to that, the GP 11.1 uses an inverted swingarm which sees the rear shock mounted higher up with a special subframe assembly. The DST transmission, as they say, is much like Honda’s gearbox. It mimics the quick and seamless shifting found in dual-clutch tranmissions.

Here are some thoughts on the GP 11.1 and the upcoming Assen TT (June 25):

Valentino Rossi

“Assen is one of my tracks – one of those that I like most and where I’ve had some nice races in all the classes. We’ll try to take advantage of that good feeling and of our experience at this circuit because Thursday morning we’ll debut some updates to my bike that are very promising but also very fresh. Filippo [Preziosi], the guys at Ducati and the Test Team have worked really hard, and that has enabled us to make this new step with the development of our bike. We haven’t had the chance to test the 800 since Estoril, so we’ll do it during the race weekends, being aware that despite having very limited time, we’ll have to focus on two jobs: making basic adjustments to the new technical parts, and finding a general setup for the race on Saturday. We’ll have to do a good job on the track in order to get the most out of the work done at the factory. It will be hard, and we know it might take some time before we can completely reach the potential of the whole package, but we’re happy and motivated by the work we’re doing.”

Nicky Hayden

“There was no GP this past weekend, but the time went by pretty quickly, as I had a test at Mugello and a couple of PR appearances. Now it’s time for Assen, which is an awesome race. I have some good memories there, including a win, and it’s a place I really like, with a lot of history and tradition. The track has changed over the years, but I like the new section. We’ve had a big gap to the front lately, but now we have another new step with the chassis. The first step helped with the feeling, and hopefully this one will also help with the lap time. It’s clear that Ducati is working hard, and that’s motivating for me, for the team, and for all of our Ducati supporters. I look forward to getting my hands on a GP11.1 as soon as possible as well.”

Filippo Preziosi

“We decided to make the GP11.1, which is an 800cc engine in a GP12 chassis, in order to accelerate development on next year’s bike, and also to provide our riders with a potentially better base for the current championship. Considering that Valentino still hasn’t ever ridden the GP11.1, this decision could require some races for the team to completely take advantage of its potential, but we decided to move forward with it because we believe it’s an important step for our development process. The next-generation gearbox, on the other hand, is a solution that we think will be an immediate improvement. The Ducati Corse Department will continue studying further innovations, both for this year and for 2012. At the same time, we have developed an additional step for the frame for Nicky, and he’ll receive the GP11.1 at Laguna Seca.”

Remember guys, the Assen TT is done on a Saturday.

Possibly banking on his double win at Salt Lake City two weeks ago, Checa starts the Misano weekend with a strong Friday. Getting the top spots in all sessions, free practice and timed, the Spaniard posted consistent lap times well within the 1:36-1:37 range. Rival podium contender Biaggi (Aprilia) also posted consistent laps, being behind Checa (second) on all sessions.

Carlos Checa

“We’ve made a good start today and we maintain the speed and rhythm of previous events; I feel I am able to ride the bike more or less at the limit. We had good feeling with the bike at Miller and also have useful information from the testing we did here at Misano a month ago so those factors have surely helped us here today. We saw some positive results during testing and those have given us a good base. Today it was important to test the tyres on the dry track as tomorrow rain is forecast and we need to know how the tyres behave in all conditions. We perhaps had a small advantage today but we know that Biaggi and Melandri will be there on Sunday and the races will be tough. Anything could happen come Sunday but the important thing is that we know we are competitive.”

Coming in to Misano, Checa (195) enjoys a 61-point lead over Yamaha’s Marco Melandri (134).

Weather conditions at Silverstone resulted in mixed for the Ducati factory duo. While the cold weather in the morning and rain in the afternoon made life difficult for Valentino, Hayden on the other hand found it strangely favorable. Nicky was 4th in FP1 with a time of 2:04.407, and Rossi  12th with a time of 2:07.075. In the wet FP2 (free practice 2), Nicky was 3rd with a time of 2:17.070, and Rossi 9th with a time of 2:19.435. Below are their thoughts.

Nicky Hayden

“This was our best Friday of the season so far. The conditions were difficult, especially this afternoon, with different surfaces and different amounts of water, but the bike worked quite well. We know it’s great in the wet, but we were also competitive in the dry this morning. We had to be careful not to destroy the rain tyres this afternoon, because we only have four sets for the whole weekend. You really need to save two for qualifying and one for the race, so this might be the only set we have for practice. I hope today sets us up for a good weekend. The team expects better than what we’ve been doing, and so do I. There’s a long way to go until Sunday, but we’re off to a good start. I’m very happy with the bike and the team today.”

Valentino Rossi

“Today was a bit difficult. The weather was bad for the most part, and that didn’t help us. We knew we were beginning with a handicap, because compared to the others I lack the experience of last year. We’re a little bit behind. We’re currently trying to find a good balance for the bike, but considering that we still take time on the tracks that we know well, of course it’s even more challenging in these conditions. We even had trouble in the wet, where normally we’re immediately quite strong, so there’s obviously still much work to be done. We know that the bike can go well because today Nicky was fast in both conditions, and that’s positive. I like Silverstone a lot. It’s a great track—a little old-school, beautiful and fast. We hope we can have more fun riding here tomorrow.”

Via MotoGP.com

Sorry for being a little late on this one. For those living under a rock, here are the complete results in last Sunday’s Catalunya GP for everyone riding a Duc.

5th Valentino Rossi
8th Nicky Hayden
9th Loris Capirossi
10th Karel Abraham
11th Hector Barbera
DNF Randy de Puniet

Now for the “afterthoughts”

Valentino Rossi

“There are good and bad aspects to today’s race. On the positive side, we reduced the gap to the front, and the others in front of me weren’t so far ahead. On the other hand, I’m obviously not happy with fifth place, because our goal was to do better than that. To tell the truth, we really could have done a little better today but last night we thought of a change to try in the warm-up and the session turned out to be wet. The change worked quite well, so we found ourselves at a crossroads as to whether or not to blindly use it in the race. We tried it, and that may have been a mistake because the bike moved a lot on corner entry. It was sliding, and I didn’t have enough grip, so I was stuck for the whole race, unable to attack Dovizioso and Spies. Otherwise, I think I could have had a slightly better pace and perhaps battled with them. Anyway, we’re not too far off, and we’re working well, which we need to continue doing. The championship is long and we’re still fully focused on both the GP11 and 2012, and we have no intention of backing off.”

Nicky Hayden

“I thought I could do better than that. I actually got a good start and the tyres came right in, so the first couple laps I thought we might be on for a good result. We used up the tyre really quickly though, and almost immediately I was spinning a lot, especially in the long corners. We had some ideas to maybe help that, but we couldn’t try them in the morning because it was wet, and it was too much of a gamble to try in the race. The rest of the bike felt really good. When the raindrops came, you definitely had to stay on your toes. I ended up in eighth, where we qualified, which I’m not thrilled with since normally we’ve been able to move up in the races. It will be a short week, so we need to understand the data and see what we get in Silverstone.”

Filippo Preziosi

“Clearly, we would have liked to have given Vale what he needed to fight for the podium, but nonetheless, I think today’s race demonstrates that we’ve taken another small step forward. We’ve reduced the gap to the front, which is very positive. It was probably possible to do even better, but we found ourselves in a situation where we only had this morning’s wet warm-up to try some changes, and they didn’t all work well in the race. Nicky wasn’t able to take full advantage of all the sessions either, but he likes the latest changes to the GP11, so we hope that soon we’ll see him back at his level from last year as we improve the bike step by step. We’re working hard on all areas of the bike, and the direction we’re following is beginning to pay off. We’re already better than we were in the winter tests, but we’re still not to the point that Valentino and Nicky deserve.”

So, back in May, Valentino participated in the inauguration of the new The Silverstone Wing by putting some practice laps on an 1198 SP. See video below to refresh your memory.

Ironically, the specially-prepared ride broke down, and so to avoid humiliation, Ducati UK stepped up and lent a road-registered 1198 (with plates and mirrors) that was normally used for driving tests and demonstrations from the dealership. Rossi completed some 30 laps and then signed the bike as a thank you to Ducati UK.

Now, that same bike will be put up for auction and part of the sale will be given to Riders for Health—MotoGP’s official charity.

The bike will be displayed at the Riders for Health Day of Champions on Thursday, June 9, and will be moved for auction on Saturday, June 11, at the Silverstone Circuit, 5:30 p.m. at The Wing building and pit complex.

For those unable to attend, commissioned phone bids are accepted. Visit www.silverstoneauctions.com.

Riders for Health’s official website is at www.riders.org.

Radical Ducati, as the name implies, is a Ducati-centered tuning outfit based in Italy. They sell tons of custom performance parts from modified fairings to engine and suspension components. Recently, Rocket Garage paid a visit to their shop and took some excellent photos of their museum-looking garage and their works. See what it’s like  inside Radical Ducati. Follow the links below (Warning: Italian overload).

• Rocket Garage’s trip
• Radical Ducati’s official site
• Radical Ducati’s blog

Below are some examples of their work.

Or maybe just a “spy shot.”

June 2 update: 2nd, “clearer” photo added below.

The bike is dubbed as the “Superquadrata” because of its square v-twin motor. From the looks of it, the iconic trellis frame is gone—replaced with what looks like the frame from Ducati MotoGP bike, where the motor is (or part) of the chassis. With this configuration, the swingarm attaches to the engine as well. Also obvious from the blurry photo is a horizontal rear shock and a GP-style right-side exhaust.

The shot was taken at Mugello last week when Valentino was testing (for the 2nd time) the Desmosedici GP12. “Spy shot” below.

Photo obviously from MotoSprint, but we wouldn’t have understood a word if it weren’t for Asphalt & Rubber.

New photo

Alright, first of all, this post is a comeback of sorts for Ducati Blog. It has been a while and we apologize. But, let this post serve as a testament to our commitment to the future—to be the harbinger of all things Ducati.

Heck, in our last post, the greatest rider on earth was still not yet associated with the brand.

So today we present to you a collection of very high-resolution photos of Valentino on his Ducati. I know our man has not really given us much to cheer about on his young Ducati career (compared to the rest of his stellar career), but things are a-changing—especially with that podium on the French Grand Prix.

Anyway, these photos include a little bit of everything since he joined the company—even that goosebumps-giving test on an 1198. Slow connections beware.

Compiled from various sources including MotoGP.com and Motorcyclist Magazine.

Below is an official press release from Ducati.

Cupertino, Calif. (16 July 2010) – Ducati Motor Holding announces today that Michael Lock, CEO of Ducati North America, is leaving the company at the end of July.

Michael joined Ducati in 2002 in the UK, and in early 2003 moved to the USA to head up the management team at Ducati North America’s headquarters in Cupertino, CA. Over the next seven years Lock’s team made many changes to Ducati’s organization, distribution, marketing and service operations.

Lock’s hard work culminated in Ducati achieving its highest ever US market share in 2009, increasing Canadian sales four-fold between 2003-2009, and taking over responsibility for the brand in Mexico earlier this year. As well as setting sales records, Lock transformed DNA’s communication strategies and delivered numerous highlights including the Monster Challenges, high profile retail promotions with brands such as Oakley and Puma, and the successful conquering of Pikes Peak with the Multistrada 1200 just this past June.

“I have experienced and participated in an amazing journey at Ducati. In a few short years we have been able to transform our brand into the most feared and admired European motorcycle by competitors and enthusiasts alike. It has been a privilege to be involved and I look forward to watching the brand soar to new heights over the coming years.” Said Lock from his office Cupertino, CA.

“Michael has been the driving force behind the great success Ducati has enjoyed in North America this past seven years. His ambition, passion and his unwavering determination has established our beloved brand as the object of desire for any motorcyclist. He has nurtured the brand, developed the dealer network and put together an outstanding team in the US, Canada and Mexico alike.” Said Cristiano Silei; Vice President Sales at Ducati Motor Holding in Bologna, Italy.

While Lock moves on to pursue other opportunities, Ducati North America is looking to finish a challenging year strongly. The much-admired Multistrada 1200 has been winning awards, while the recent arrival of the Monster 796 to dealer showrooms has spurred sales even further.

Cristiano Silei will assume the position of CEO of DNA for the interim while retaining his current position as Vice President of Sales at Ducati Motor Holding.

“North America is the most important international market for Ducati and the one I personally know the best. I am excited to be supporting DNA’s Senior Managers to set and implement policy for the new season. Our goals are to support our dealer network and keep improving our market share thanks to an ever expanding product line-up, innovative branding and sound commercial policies”.

From eurocarblog:

The Italian press is reporting that Mercedes is planning a partnership with Ducati in order to enter the motorcycle market. The plan follows the success of the BMW Motorrad division and particularly its success in the Superbike competition. Another German car manufacturer, Volkswagen, has also come to an agreement with Suzuki over its motorcycle division with a view to a possible renewal of the NSU brand.

Ducati recently participated in a co-marketing operation with Mercedes which involved the appearance of the Mercedes SLK roadster at the World Ducati Week event. Mercedes was also the main sponsor of the “WDW 2010″.

Currently the Mercedes-Ducati rumours are merely that, insistent though they are. The rumours have been neither confirmed nor denied by either company, but a collaboration, particularly in racing activities and not product necessarily, could sit well with both companies, although the Mercedes and Ducati images are quite different.

Ducati has previously been the object of the attention of Ferdinand Piech who had expressed a desire to integrate it into the Volkswagen Group. Any possible alliance between Ducati and Mercedes though, could well step on the toes of Ferrari who has numerous partnerships with Ducati, especially with regards to sponsors—Marlboro, Shell, Bridgestone and even brakes supplier Brembo.