Motorcycling and surfing styles combine for exciting new collection in spring 2011.Ducati, the world-famous motorcycle manufacturer, has signed a co-branding agreement with Bear, the popular “activewear” brand based in California, famous for its surf apparel and “stylosophy”.

Iconic in their respective fields, Ducati and Bear have used their unparalleled expertise and tradition to design and create the stunning new collection. With both motorcycling and surfing communities sharing a strong passion for the freedom, performance and challenge that their favorite leisure activities provide them, the new partnership has produced an innovative and exciting line of apparel that is sure to be a hit for both lifestyles.

Ducati and Bear have cooperated to create the “capsule collection”, surf and beachwear items with a distinctive motorcycling inspiration. The unique combination of motorcycling and surfing has created a new style, recognised by the characteristic “curve”, which forms a theme throughout the collection. The curve offers a visible tribute to the Ducati logo and the sophisticated and strong red, white and black colour scheme gives a bold personality to the collection, while identifying the colours of both Ducati and Bear company logos.

The collection will be available in beachwear stores across Italy from spring 2011, and selected items available worldwide in “Ducati Stores” and “Ducati Caffes”.

The penultimate round of the Australian Superbike Series will be held at Phillip Island this weekend (Sept 10-12) in conjunction with the V8 Supercars L&H500.
The Ducati Motologic Racing Team is a man down going into the weekend as #33 Jordan Burgess will not be donning his racing leathers for the event. The young Newcastle rider will be at the island to support the team, however, with round 6 being so soon after Burgess sustained injury to his foot at Qld Raceway, the ever-determined rider must await the next event to once again take to the track on his Ducati.

The focus now rests solely on #27 Jamie Stauffer for Round 6 results. The team depart for Phillip Island optimistic of improving their standing in the championship after having the opportunity to test the 1198R at the Phillip Island Circuit recently. With many of the front runners in attendance for the day, Stauffer’s 1198R looked extremely fast on the track and he is looking forward to the weekend’s racing.

#27 Jamie Stauffer: “The test at the Island went really well for us. We have been using the 200 rear tyre for some time now so the bike was pretty close in terms of set-up and we made some real headway in the changes we made. My lap times were really encouraging and I’m confident we can keep the momentum going into this round.”

Team Manager Paul Free echoes Stauffer’s sentiments: “It’s really disappointing for the whole team that Jordy can’t be riding this weekend, I’m glad he is here albeit on crutches. Jamie seems really confident on the 1198R going into the event and with the information we gained from the previous round and the day spent at Phillip Island, I believe we have a really good setting for this round. It’s an extremely important event for us being the first event in 10 years that Ducati have competed in the Superbike Championship in conjunction with the V8 Supercars so we would dearly love to pick up where Ducati finished 10 years ago which was in a winning position.”

(photo Bonnie Lane)

Leon Morris took a win and a second place in the Ducati 848 Challenge races at the Fowlers Motorcycles Pro Bike meeting at Castle Combe at the weekend, keeping his championship hopes alive, albeit by a slim margin. Stockbridge-based Morris lived up to his word by sharing the honours with Buildbase/JHP Racing team-mate Darren Fry who also took a win and a second. Podium regular, Mark Cheetham, took third place honours in the first race, with Barry Poll taking the other well-deserved podium place in the second race.

The historic circuit, celebrating 60 years of racing this year, was playing host a huge and appreciative crowd who were treated to some great racing all through the regular New Era classes – plus the Historic GP Championship and a parade of Classic Racing machines. But in the red morning light at the Wiltshire circuit it was local hero Morris who shone brightest with a blistering start from the second row to slingshot through the slimmest of gaps between Fry and the other front row starters in the SOT class. He would lead the race until lap 5 when Fry finally reeled him in, and the pair were to race wheel-to-wheel for the remainder of the race, Fry only crossing the line less than half a second in front of his team-mate.

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The DucatiCorseFriends are happy to introduce a new service. From today we can build for you a new website!
Please contact us for more information. (please use the contactpage)
Our latest project:

www.DavyWens.be
www.team848.be
www.rhracing.be
www.DutchDucatiWomen.nl

Ducati UK is to relocate early next year from their current offices in Milton Keynes to new purpose built head quarters at Silverstone Race Circuit. The move to the Northamptonshire track is the result of a lengthy search for premises after out -growing the current offices and also the need to centralise all Ducati UK operations.

The Silverstone premises will see a bespoke 8000sq feet facility that will include offices, warehouse, dealer training rooms, a workshop that will service the press and demonstrator fleets (now brought back in-house) and there is the potential for a retail outlet for the sale of Ducati merchandise during major track events.
The new Ducati UK premises are expected to be ready early next year and will be situated close to the Silverstone Innovation centre on the outside of Woodcote. This relocation heralds a new era for Ducati UK who can look forward to sharing in the on-going development of the Silverstone circuit as it now becomes the UK home for both two and four-wheeled Motorsport.

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After the wet races at the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps, the Dutch 3D Cup went to Germany at the Dahlemer Benz track for the 7th round from this year.

Next race and last race for 2010 will be again at the great Assen, during the SMA Race of the Champions on September, 26th.
The 3D Cup is a very successfully formula, with more than 100 Ducati riders it’s an event that every Ducati rider must see and enjoy!

On the pictures you will see the start, Pleun Bakker and Geert Schepens.
Click here  to see the official press release in Dutch. (pdf)

Ducati UK announce a promotional campaign to win a Ducati branded Mountain bike.
Customers looking to test ride a Ducati between now and the end of October have the chance to win one of three Ducati branded Bianchi mountain bikes worth £500 each.

For the chance to win one of these limited edition mountain bikes customers must contact a Ducati authorised dealership and book a demonstration ride on one of the current 2010 range. Customers can choose from a model line-up that includes the acclaimed new Multistrada, the iconic Monster family, the Hypermotard and Streetfighter models plus the stunning array of Ducati Superbikes which now includes the recently launched 848 EVO.
Once the customer has completed their test ride the dealer will enter their name into a draw to win a Bianchi mountain bike worth £500.

The Ducati Monster 600 mountain bike features:
• Lightweight aluminium frame
• Suntour suspension forks
• Shimano Altus 24sp

For further information on the range of Ducati bikes visit www.bianchi.com

QLD Round 5 Practice Update at ASBK

It was a very wet start to Round 5 of the Australian Superbike Championship today at Qld Raceway as the Ducati Motologic Racing Team look to regain some valuable championship points after a frustrating round at Qld in June.

Pleased to have the opportunity to practice under wet conditions on the Ducati 1198R, #27 Jamie Stauffer and #33 Jordan Burgess took to the track for both practice sessions with Stauffer finishing the day 2nd on the timesheets with a 1:19.476 sec only marginally behind Wayne Maxwell who recorded a 1:19.418 seconds. Burgess was back in fine form and back in the top 10, finishing his day in ninth on the timesheets.

Team Manager Paul Free is pleased with the riders’ lap times.
Paul Free: “The team had a good day; it is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to practice in wet conditions so we took full advantage of both sessions and saw some great improvement throughout the day. I was glad to see Jordy back in the top ten, and Jamie just got faster with each adjustment we made to the 1198R as the session went on to finish second on the timesheet by .058 sec.”

The experienced Stauffer takes each day as it comes at race events, but is looking forward to tomorrow’s qualifying.
#27 Jamie Stauffer: “It was a pretty positive day, we got a lot sorted out and it was great to do some practice in the wet. The Dunlop tyres and the overall bike set-up were working a treat; I couldn’t believe the level of grip. Hopefully we have a dry track tomorrow and can work the bike set -up just as well for dry conditions if not better…and hopefully take pole position in qualifying for Sunday’s races!”

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Asia Ducati Week 2010

The biggest Ducati event in Asian region will take place October 8th-12th at Sepang international circuit Ducati passion doesn’t know limits. Year 2010 already hosted the sixth edition of World Ducati Week: a truly Red Planet’s celebration that gained together more than 60,000 Ducatisti in Misano Adriatico, Italy.

Another “Desmo” experience is waiting for you in the Eastern part of the world: this time the appointment is at Sepang International Circuit. The biggest motorcycle event in the all Asia Pacific region, where you can enjoy either speed performances and adrenalin rush: the first Asia Ducati Week.
Participants will experience five days of pure enjoyment.

What is Asia Ducati Week:
Special tickets for the Motogp race of Sepang in the exclusive Ducati Grandstand
Ducati Corse Meeting
Riding course “DRE Asia” attendance at Sepang International Circuit,
Concerts and entertainments for Ducati enthusiasts
…and much more !

Enrolment open! Book now your ticket.

(Al Fagan (#4) leads Rob Wilson (#57) and Stuart Poyser (#77))

Darren Fry returned to winning ways in the Ducati 848 Challenge at Mallory Park at the weekend, again doing the double over his rivals. With home advantage at the EMRA meeting, the Daventry-based rider put on a masterclass in getting the best out of the Ducati 848 on the short circuit, topping the time-sheets from early morning free practice through to both mid-afternoon races. Leon Morris, his Buildbase/JHP Racing team-mate who so impressed at the last round at Snetterton, continued his fine form with a pair of seconds, but wasn’t able to match Fry for his local knowledge of the tight track.

Race one delivered a new face on the podium this year, with Barry Poll at last rewarded for his progress throughout the season with a third place, denying Mark Cheetham a place on podium for the first time all year. The race had earlier started with Peter Hasler and Al Fagan jumping the lights, Hasler dropping way down the field as he over-corrected, but it was their good fortune that the race was red flagged due to a faller at Gerrards on lap 3.
At the restart, Morris got away first making up places on Poll and Fry ahead of him, but as the field came into Edwina’s Fry passed his team-mate on the brakes as Ben Garner on the Ducati Manchester/Green Thumb bike took to the access road having not made the turn. Arriving back on the track well down the pack, Garner then put in a storming performance to work his way back through the field to finally finish fifth having survived several unseating moments on the drive down the Devil’s Elbow during the shortened 9-lap race. Poll meanwhile was piling the pressure on Cheetham who was by now third, and on lap 5 finally got his man with a move through Edwina’s. The two were side-by-side as they pulled away towards the Esses, but Poll firmly shut the door on an immediate reply relegating Cheetham down to fourth. With former EMRA regular Rob Wilson joining the series for the first time this season on the Handtrans/PalletForce 848, the mid-pack was jostling for places; Red Dog Ducati rider Al Fagan crossing the line only two tenths ahead of Peter Hasler on the Boast Plumbing bike. Stuart Poyser, on a mission to finish both races at this round following two bruising DNFs at Snetterton was now halfway there as he brought home the field to close out the race. But as so often this season, while all the action was going on behind them, the two JHP Racing riders effortlessly went about their business to deliver another 1-2 finish for the team.

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