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The week of top team presentations is in full swing and today it was finally Ducati Aruba’s turn. At the Arezzo site, the Italian team unveiled the Panigale R with which Davies and Melandri will place Kawasaki in the crosshairs.
Sure not to miss the Tuscan event was Claudio Domenicali who, after greeting all those in attendance, left room for Gigi Dall’Igna. There is no lack of confidence in the eyes of the engineer from Borgo Panigale: “The bike has definitely grown. Eleven wins in 2016 are an important result – he commented – even though there are still some aspects that need to be improved, one of which is the top speed.” Dall’Igna has no doubts: “The goal is the Championship title – he added – there is great synergy between MotoGP and SBK, because many ideas that come from the factory derivatives are then passed on to Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing.”
The reply to these hopes lies in the Davies-Melandri duo: “Chaz is a Ducati icon – Dall’Igna pointed out – the only one to have ever won with the Panigale. Marco, on the other hand, is pure talent – he added – one of the best riders in Italian motorcycle racing. We won a World Championship together and I hope we can do that again.”
Alongside him was Paolo Ciabatti: “This will be an important challenge and we are confident that we have one of the strongest teams in the Championship – the sporting director said – plus we have extended our programme with Aruba through 2019, so we have all our papers in order for the Championship title.”
An awareness of the potential of the Red bike was also visible on the face of Ernesto Marinelli: “There have not been any great revolutions because we already had a solid base – he analysed – we simply wanted to fine-tune a few details, perhaps speed is the aspect where we are still vulnerable.” Marinelli then explained the key points that team focused on over the winter: “We were able to work on aerodynamics and the electronics, evolving our anti-spin and engine brake systems, but we also work on the suspension, finding better grip.”
Then the two riders had the floor. On the right, Marco Melandri seemed like a kid at his first day of school: “It is so exciting to be here. I see a motivated team and I am also as motivated as ever – he said – in the past I have won a lot of races, but I also lost several Championships. This challenge is a dream. I am working every morning for this.” The rider from Ravenna then outlined the outcome of recent years: “I think that I have matured. I realised that when you lack something you need to want it even more – he continued – now I am in the ideal situation. Davies is in great form and he is the man to beat.”
The Welshman was not far from him and he enthusiastically pointed out the progress: “A great job was done on development – he said – 2016 was an important season and now we want to continue the trend of wins from last year. I feel like this bike is mine – he added – it is agile ad I ride it the way I want to. In fact, with the Panigale I get off the line like a beast (he jokes).”
