Media Press ReleaseDUCATI PRESENTS 2010 INNOVATIONS
Finally unveiled, world preview of the new and eagerly anticipated Multistrada 1200.
Also new for 2010: new “Corse” livery for the 1198, two new Hypermotard 1000evo models and technical advances in the Monster family.
As is tradition prior to the opening of the EICMA show, Ducati has officially revealed the innovations of its 2010 product range.
Dream bikes, the fruit of Italian ingenuity and creativity, and destined to become new points of reference on the international market, are ready to take the spotlight at EICMA 2009, the 67th edition of the International Motorcycle Exhibition, taking place at the Fiera Internazionale di Milano in Rho, from 10 - 15 November.
Before the unveiling of the 2010 line-up, the new Ducati Corse logo was presented to the international press, an evolution of the historic brand in the form of a new graphic, following on from the launch of the new Ducati logo at last year’s EICMA show.
A press conference, eagerly anticipated and rich in content, took place immediately prior to the official opening of the trade show. Gabriele Del Torchio, President of Ducati Motor Holding, met with representatives of the international media to present the company’s recent sporting and commercial results, confirming the Italian manufacturer’s strength and performance, despite the difficulties that the sector is currently experiencing.
“In 2009 Ducati has faced a year of important challenges but also one of important opportunities,” stated Gabriele Del Torchio, President of Ducati, during the conference. “The challenges arrive from a market that has entered a significant worldwide slump and where the segment in which we operate could have dropped by 35% by the end of this year. In this scenario Ducati knew how best to react, so much so that our shares have continuously grown and in 2009 we will register a record share of 7.2% on a worldwide level. This result was achieved by sticking strictly to the objectives we had set ourselves, in relation to the company’s three fundamental pillars. Firstly, product, with the 2010 innovations the clearest demonstration of how we have followed an intelligent plan for continuous renewal. Then the distribution network, constantly renewed and reinforced to improve and expand the service. Thanks also to the recent opening of stores in Shanghai, Mexico City and in Vietnam, Ducati today distributes in 80 countries of the world. Last but not least, the brand. We continue to work on the recognition of our brand name, and above all, on the role that Ducati has as an ambassador of Italian style across the world, a factor that is of fundamental value to us.”
Claudio Domenicali, General Director of Ducati Motor Holding, then presented the many new bikes lining-up in Ducati’s 2010 Model Year.
“We are present at EICMA with a series of important innovations, in accordance with our strategic industrial plan,” declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati’s General Director, while presenting the 2010 Model Year. “The new Multistrada 1200 provides Ducati with an important opportunity to penetrate what is, for us, a completely new market segment, with a totally innovative concept, in terms of performance, usability and technological content. Four bikes in one, with four different riding modes, traction control and electronic suspension but, most importantly, a true Ducati, in its style, design and advanced technology, derived directly from Ducati’s racing experience on tracks across the world. The Hypermotard 796 e 1100 evo, the new “Corse” liveries for the 1198 S and 1198 R, as well as countless technical and style updates, complete the 2010 line-up of which we are so proud.”
The undeniable star is the eagerly awaited Ducati Multistrada 1200, already in the running to take the prize for “best bike in show.”
Faithful to the original intuition, which combined sport bike technology with comfort and versatility, Ducati now extends the concept further with a brand new Multistrada 1200 designed to satisfy the demands of all motorcyclists. Ducati have designed a motorcycle to tackle all kinds of journey and road surface using technology derived from the Bologna made race bikes in MotoGP and World Superbike.
A bike with no limits, that can transform itself to suit the rider’s demands, from a supersport to a tourer for long journeys with a passenger and luggage, to an everyday bike which can breeze through the daily commute and also tackle off-road routes with the agility of an enduro; in other words, four bikes in one!
Ducati have once again pushed the limits of motorcycle design by adding Italian innovation to the elegance, style and technology which characterise the motorcycles that leave the Bologna factory.
All it needed was a heart, the perfect engine to fulfill the potential of this new design. The obvious starting point was the World Championship-winning engine, the Testastretta, used on the Superbike 1198. Engineers in Bologna have succeeded in harnessing the immense power of this engine, making it smooth and adaptable to any situation.
The new Testastretta 11° engine is thus born, and represents a milestone in combining performance with usability.
2010 Special Editions celebrate the historic Ducati Corse logo change and two world titles in Superbike and Superstock. The 1198 S Corse Special Edition and 1198 R Corse Special
Edition, both equipped with factory team-style aluminium fuel tanks, Ducati Traction Control and a special celebratory Ducati Corse livery, now complement the lightweight and agile 848 now in Dark colour scheme, the awesomely powerful 1198, and the high-spec 1198 S to complete the 2010 Superbike model line-up.
There are more exciting new products in the Ducati Hypermotard range that now becomes a fully-fledged family of bikes in 2010. No longer just one, but three versions, designed to suit different needs, but each with the same specific objective: to provide excitement and fun. So here is the new, agile Hypermotard 796, which joins the new and even more powerful Hypermotard 1100EVO as well as the extreme version, the as yet unseen Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP.
Hot on the heels of its early model year 2010 launch in October, the lightweight 796 is now joined by an evolution of the 1100 model that rolls out at an incredible 7kg (15.5lb) lighter and 5hp more powerful than the original.
And if further weight reduction and more punch wasn't already enough on a bike that was built to thrill, the Hypermotard 1100EVO SP pushes the limits even further with a model intended to perform on the track as well as the street.
The exciting introduction to the Monster family for 2010 are the ABS equipped versions of the 696 and 1100 (basic and S), the first time that Ducati has ever equipped the Monster family with a safety-enhancing anti-lock braking system.
Other 2010 introductions to the Monster family include new exhaust guards, which feature a longer shape and provide improved heat protection.
Brand new crankcases for the 696, which are an impressive 1.2kg (2.6lb) lighter and, furthermore, the user-friendliness of the controls has been improved with 4-point adjustable clutch and brake levers to suit all hand sizes.
In addition, Ducati presents many new accessories, special components and a new collection of Ducati clothing.
