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MotoGP, Domenicali: "The 2018 Ducati beautiful? It will be if it wins!"

Dall'Igna: "We've given the bike a little more horsepower. The new aerodynamics? You'll see them at the tests in Thailand or Qatar"

MotoGP: Domenicali: "The 2018 Ducati beautiful? It will be if it wins!"

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The world championship chase can only begin in Borgo Panigale. At its Bologna-based HQ, Ducati has today unveiled the Desmosedici GP18. Its new look includes a touch of grey alongside the traditional white and red, while sponsor TIM has disappeared. Replacing it on the front fairing is Flex-Box.

On stage to do the honours was Claudio Domenicali who, in reference to the bike's colours, is quick to point out: “I have a lateral point of view. I like bikes that win (he smiles). I trust in the work carried out by Dall’Igna – he adds - the GP17 had some extraordinary strengths in terms of acceleration and braking. It was perhaps the best bike on the grid. If we can improve on those small aspects that kept us from the podium in certain races last year, I'm convinced that we'll be able to do something really great in this year's championship”.

Ducati's commitment in the top class began in 2002:  “We've been in MotoGP for sixteen years –recalls Domenicali - this is an important moment, as we close a 2017 that has been extraordinary for us, both on the track and commercially speaking, having sold almost 56,000 bikes”. As for the racing results:  “The result was crazy. We actually won the same number of races as Marquez”. One victory proved particularly special: “The Mugello win of course, an incredible gift for all the Italian fans. We're proud of Dovizioso. An Italian rider had never won at Mugello on an Italian bike before. And let's not forget that from that race on, we were fighting for the title all the way to the end”.

Domenicali looks to the past, but also the present and future: “We are here to inaugurate a new season today and, at the same time, discover new productsThe most significant is the V4, a product we've never had before and yet also a product that has never been so close to the race bike. A clear demonstration of transfer from the technological world to the racing world”. And then there's the Scrambler:   “We have extraordinary growth with the 1100. I think this is an exciting time in the car and bike world, particularly in terms of technological development. It is therefore stimulating to be part of this process, able to count on people and studies that strive for positions of leadership, allowing us to think ahead to 2020”.

First they must consider the present though: “We're ready, seeing as we have two extraordinary riders. Dovizioso is incredible, a real talent, underestimated by many. He's ready to try again. Alongside him is Lorenzo, who proved to be fast in the final part of the season after some trouble adapting. In addition to them, let's not forget a team that works day in day out”.

Leading that team is Gigi Dall’Igna: “We had a really emotional, exciting 2017 – explains the general manager – very few tracks cause us trouble now”. During the winter, there was no shortage of development work on the GP18: “We focused on the chassis, but also the engine. We'll have a few more horsepower, hoping to make the Ducati easier to ride. Of course we've also worked on the aerodynamics, we'll probably bring the new components to Buriram or Qatar. We'll need to be meticulous during testing”.

Dall’Igna maps out the path to take, confident in his two riders: “Andrea battled Marquez for the title right to the final race. He is the rider who has scored the most points from Aragon 2016 up to the Valencia race two months ago”. As for Lorenzo: “His was a season of growth after some initial difficulties. I expect him to be able to fight with the best”.

All three have one clear goal: “To fight for the championship  - states Dall’Igna - this is what I've told the team, even though there are teams that can rely on strong riders and significant budgets. I want to make a promise, or rather that we will work to make 2018 a magnificent year”.  

Paolo Ciabatti takes the stage, referring back to Dovizioso and Lorenzo's performance, as well as that of other riders: “I get goosebumps thinking about 2017 I don't want to forget Danilo Petrucci's performance with the Pramac Ducati and also that of Pirro and Stoner. We have the best test riders in the world, though to define Michele as a test rider is simplistic”.  

Ciabatti also has a clear idea when it comes to the direction to follow:  “We want to be able to fight for the win and the podium in every race. Marquez is the clear favourite, but we've shown that we can fight at the same level”.

Davide Tardozzi listens on and interjects:  “We can relive the excitement of 2017 . We have two great champions, great guys, they respect each other and learn from each other. This helps us in our work. We are a close group, our aim to work for Ducati. We'll do all we can to achieve strong results right from race one”.

The red bike will debut at the Sepang tests, with Stoner and Pirro. We've often seen Michele in the garage this year: “I'm pleased to have shared in the success. We've proved to be a great team and now we have to consolidate that. We need to work to develop the bike. My aim is to remain inside the top five in those races I participate in. being along side riders like Stoner, Lorenzo and Dovizioso helps me improve”.

He then comments briefly on the V4 “It reminds me of the MotoGP”.  Attention then turns to Lorenzo and Dovizioso: “I've followed them closely. At times I had to give Andrea and Jorge directions (he smiles)”.

Dovizioso and Lorenzo are entrusted with the task of bringing the bike to the stage. The Italian speaks first:  “All the Desmosedicis are beautiful, but this is really beautiful, even more so with the added grey”. Dovi then refers back to the 2017 season:   “It was fantastic to achieve those results and get our fans excited. In 2018 our aim is to fight for the championship. We need to stay humble, with our feet on the ground, knowing what we need to improve. We'll try to be faster at those tracks where we didn't reach the podium”.

Last season was Lorenzo's debut year on the Ducati: “It wasn't easy– admits the Majorcan - but there was growth and now we're ready for the new championship. The team and bike are ready to win, I'll do all I can to be the best ever Lorenzo. If I can do that, we'll be able to win many races". A word about the livery: “A modern and technological colour-scheme, our fans are going to enjoy themselves this year”.

 

Translated by Heather Watson
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