Audi has been 100% owner of Ducati since April 2012 but Audi will only make its first appearance on MotoGP machines in 2019. Claudio Domenicali, the boss of the Borgo Panigale brand explains the reason, the message and the issues.
This majority stake of the automobile brand with the rings in Ducati Motor Holding dates back to its purchase by the Volkswagen group in 2012. The Italian firm is integrated into the Audi family, which also includes Lamborghini and Italdesign. But it's only for the 2019 season that Audi officially appears on Desmosedici's factory machines.Andrea Dovizioso and Daniel Petrucci. With the “Audi Sport” brand.
Ducati has regained success after difficult years. In 2017, seven new models were launched. Ducati sold a record 55 motorcycles, turnover was 871 million euros, profit 736 million. Ducati Motor Holding currently employs 51 people. The Ducati dealer network includes 1 dealers in more than 570 countries.
This season, Audi Sport will participate in the MotoGP World Championship for the first time. What changed ? After recent successes Audi finally identifies with the Italian motorcycle brand.
« Audi now appears on our MotoGP machines. This is an important sign of the strengthening of cooperation between Ducati and our main shareholder ", said Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. “ Since 2012 we have been part of the Audi Group. Over the years, we have improved synergies in all areas, including technology. Now the Audi logo can be seen on our racing motorcycles. This clearly indicates that Audi wants to strengthen its cooperation and take advantage of our presence in the group. We have, for example, experience in high-performance engine technologies. But we can also benefit from Audi's know-how. Increased cooperation will make Ducati stronger as a company ».
Sundays ends on speedweek : " of course, Ducati is a small company in the VW group. Our result will not change the economic results of the group, because the entire VW group converts more than 230 billion euros per year. But our main shareholder wants the Ducati brand to become stronger and our value to increase. This includes achieving better racing results and developing better products for the series. We want to be the first choice for all motorcyclists who love and want to buy a premium product »
A conviction whose corollary is to prohibit any failure. This 2019 season will definitely be very special for Ducati.
