The historic Palazzo Re Enzo in Piazza Maggiore, Bologna (Italy), hosted the launch of the 2020 Mission Winnow Ducati team.
During the event, drivers Andrea Dovizioso et Danilo Petrucci and Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, and Luigi Dall'Igna, general manager of Ducati Corse, revealed the new colors of the Desmosedici GP20 that the Italian team will field in the 2020 MotoGP world championship.
The all-new liveries, painted in bright red with some black and chrome details, will make their first official racing appearance during the inaugural Grand Prix of the 2020 MotoGP season in Qatar on March 8. The opening meeting for 2020 will take place as usual in the evening, and it will be the first of 20 races planned this year.
An exciting new season is about to begin. From February 7-9, the Ducati Mission Winnow Team will make its first on-track appearance for 2020, at the Official MotoGP Test in Sepang, Malaysia.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding: “Racing is and has always been a fundamental part of our company, even in a particularly complicated era where technology is radically changing our environment. To succeed in this situation, it is necessary to continue investing in research and development, and racing is a crucial part of our commitment in this area. If we add up the R&D done for the production line, for racing and the assets needed to produce new models, Ducati's overall R&D represents more than 10% of its revenues.
Our Panigale V4 machine has been extensively renovated for 2020, and it would not have seen the light of day without the contribution of all the lessons we have learned from competitions. An engine with a counter-rotating crankshaft, progressive traction control, an efficient aerodynamic fairing that includes fins, are just some of the elements that result from the skillful work done by Gigi and her team in MotoGP. We are incredibly proud, not only because Ducati is the only Italian company, but also the only European company capable of winning races in MotoGP since the Championship began in 2002.
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“We are proud to represent an excellent territory, Motor Valley, in competitions. It is an incredible region which, within a radius of 150 kilometers, sees prestigious brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Dallara, Pagani and of course Ducati, which is just 15 minutes from the center of Bologna. This is what racing is for Ducati: an advanced technological incubator, a showcase of Italian intelligence and technology, and an incredible component of passion for all Ducatisti. »
“I would like to thank all our partners and sponsors and wish Andrea, Danilo, Gigi and the entire team all the best. I wish us all a highly competitive and rewarding season. »
Luigi Dall'Igna, general manager of Ducati Corse: “We have already left the 2019 season behind us, a year which saw us confirm our place as vice-world rider champion for the third time in a row with Andrea. Dovizioso had nine podium finishes and two incredible victories. At the same time, Danilo gave us incredible emotions with his victory at Mugello, which is a GP that we had won in the last three years. But we cannot say that we are completely satisfied, because our ultimate goal remains the same: to win the championship title. The year 2020 will be even more intense and more demanding with twenty races planned on the calendar, and our rivals will be even more competitive. This is why we all need to increase our commitment. That's why we worked harder during the winter to give Andrea and Danilo a Desmosedici GP20 that will allow them to become top competitors in all races and in all conditions. »
Andrea Dovizioso (#04, Mission Winnow Ducati): “The year 2019 was interesting and made us understand some aspects that will help us improve and develop in 2020. Last year we finished second for third consecutive time behind Marc Màrquez, a driver who certainly made the difference, but we also did our best to manage our potential well. Every year has its own story, and it is not easy to predict what will happen in 2020. Our goal is clear, we want to fight for the title again. Ducati and I are working hard to come back stronger than ever. Compared to last year, I expect to find more competitive rivals, but we have also progressed a lot, and I am confident that we can continue our upward trend. »
Danilo Petrucci (n°9, Mission Winnow Ducati): “The year 2019 was positive for me, despite some difficulties towards the end of the year. It was my best season in MotoGP in terms of results. I took my first victory at Mugello in a fantastic race in front of my home crowd and all the Ducati fans. This result boosts my confidence and motivates me to improve even more this year. I know our rivals will come back stronger this year, but that goes for me too. I have improved and progressed during each season, and this year I want to confirm my results and make further progress compared to last year. »
