Ducati Corse


Ducati Corse is the racing team division of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. that deals with the firm's involvement in motorcycle racing. It is directed by Claudio Domenicali and is based in Borgo Panigale, Bologna. More than one hundred people work in Ducati Corse. Ducati Corse currently competes in MotoGP, the Superbike World Championship and other national championships.
Between 1998 and 2004 the racing division existed as a subsidiary company named Ducati Corse S.r.l. and fully owned by Ducati Motor Holding. To date, Ducati has one MotoGP world championship for both rider and manufacturer, with Casey Stoner in 2007. In addition Ducati has won multiple Superbike world championships, with Carl Fogarty and Troy Bayliss being the most successful riders.

Organization

The company is split into four departments.

Technical research and development

Technical research and development is composed of two teams responsible for the design and development of the motorcycles that compete in the MotoGP and Superbike championships.

Sporting activities

The sporting activities department is responsible for the factory teams that take part in the MotoGP and Superbike championships.

Commercial activities

The commercial activities department is responsible for providing private teams with motorcycles and spare parts. It also provides consultancy services and technical assistance to Ducati privateers take part in the Superbike World Championship and in national Superbike championships. From Ducati Corse also supports a satellite team in MotoGP, supplying bikes and technical support.

Marketing and communication

The marketing and communication department's goal is to increase and manage the Ducati brand image in racing. It is also responsible for Ducati Corse official merchandising line.

Grand Prix motorcycle racing (MotoGP)

When the MotoGP technical rules changed in the season, giving priority to four-stroke machinery, Ducati decided to enter Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
Ducati's MotoGP motorcycle was unveiled at the 2002 Italian GP at Mugello, for use in the 2003 MotoGP championship. Ducati began taking part in the MotoGP Championship in the season and won one title in the season. Ducati has collected 48 wins: 23 by Casey Stoner, 12 by Andrea Dovizioso, 7 by Loris Capirossi, 3 by Jorge Lorenzo and 1 each by Troy Bayliss, Andrea Iannone and Danilo Petrucci.
Marlboro has been the title sponsor since 2003, although its name does not appear on the team's 2019 motorcycle. This comes at a time when advertising of tobacco sponsorship has become illegal in the European Union and other major teams have withdrawn from relationships with tobacco companies, for example Yamaha ended their five-year relationship with Fortuna/Gauloises. The "controversial" team name associated with Marlboro's parent company, Philip Morris, was removed from the motorcycle livery for a May race event due to possible contravention of local advertising law, similarly it had been removed from Ferrari F1 race cars earlier in 2019.

2003

and Loris Capirossi competed in all rounds of the MotoGP championship. Loris Capirossi, got a podium in the opening round of the championship in Japan and won the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona. Capirossi finished fourth in the final championship standings and Bayliss sixth; while Ducati finished second overall in the Manufacturers' standings.

2004

A large part of the season went by before the bike became competitive, but the season concluded with both riders on the podium.

2005

In the season, Bayliss was replaced by Spain's Carlos Checa and Ducati switched tyre suppliers to Bridgestone. Capirossi took two wins at Twin Ring Motegi and Sepang, while Checa scored a brace of podium finishes.

2006

Spanish rider Sete Gibernau replaced Checa for the season. The team took its first win of 2006 in the opening round at Jerez, followed by a podium in Qatar. Capirossi led the championship for a short while, but at the start of the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona, Capirossi's bike collided with Gibernau's. Both riders ended up injured and in hospital, with Gibernau sustaining a broken collar bone. Capirossi struggled at the Dutch TT race a week later, while Gibernau was replaced by German Alex Hofmann for several rounds after undergoing additional surgery. With Gibernau also sidelined for the final round of the season at Valencia, Ducati recalled Bayliss, who was recently crowned Superbike World champion. Bayliss won the race, his first MotoGP victory, with Capirossi taking second place for the first Ducati 1–2 finish.

2007

Engine displacement was reduced to 800 cc for the season. Ducati started development of its 800 cc motorcycle extremely early, and according to Ducati's racing chief Filippo Preziosi, by August 2006, Ducati had already built twenty 800 cc engines with various specifications. Loris Capirossi was joined in the team by Casey Stoner. During the most part of the 2007 season, Stoner dominated the field, obtaining his and the team's first MotoGP World Championship at Twin Ring Motegi on September 23, 2007, four races before the end of the season.
At the end of season, Ducati's chief engineer Alan Jenkins was awarded the Sir Jackie Stewart Award for brilliance throughout the season.

2008

remained with the team and was partnered with Marco Melandri for the season. Melandri had a difficult time adapting to the GP-8's performance, and mutually agreed to shorten his two-year contract to one year midway through the 2008 MotoGP season.

2009

Again, Casey Stoner remained with the team while Nicky Hayden became Stoner's new teammate on the factory Carbon Fibre chassis Ducati GP9, replacing Marco Melandri who moved to Kawasaki for the season. Halfway through the season Finnish rookie Mika Kallio was given the chance to compete for the team for 3 races, as Stoner was unavailable due to illness.

2010

Once again Casey Stoner joined with Nicky Hayden for the season.

2011

On 9 July 2010, Casey Stoner announced that he would join Honda Racing Corporation for the season, after four years at Ducati.
On 15 August 2010, after the MotoGP Brno race, Valentino Rossi confirmed he would be riding for Ducati Corse, signing a two-year deal to start with the season.

2012

and Nicky Hayden remained with Ducati Corse for the season.

2013

remained with Ducati Corse for the 2013 season on a one-year contract. He was joined by Andrea Dovizioso.

2014

remained with Ducati for the 2014 season. He was joined by former team-mate Cal Crutchlow.

2015

remained with Ducati for the 2015 season with Andrea Iannone coming to the factory team from a Pramac Ducati. 2015 awaited the highly anticipated GP15, a full redesign of the Desmosedici by Gigi Dall'Igna which made its debut at the second February test in Sepang.

2016

and Iannone remained as the factory team riders for the 2016 season with the Desmo GP16, cited as being an evolution of the GP15. Perhaps the most notable change within Ducati Corse came with the arrival of Casey Stoner as the division's top test rider who immediately gelled with the Ducati, in addition to Michele Pirro. Ducati has fielded a total of 8 bikes on the MotoGP circuit for 2016 between the factory team, Pramac Yakhnich team, Aspar Team, and Avintia Racing.

2017

In 2016, Ducati Corse signed five time world champion and reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo to pilot the Ducati for the and seasons. They have also retained Andrea Dovizioso, for a further two seasons.

2018

Once again Andrea Dovizioso joined with Jorge Lorenzo for the season.

2019

In 2019, after mainly poor results, Jorge Lorenzo's 2-year contract with Ducati ended with a move to Honda to join Marc Márquez, while Dovizioso remained. Italian rider Danilo Petrucci joined Ducati from Alma Pramac Racing.

Grand Prix motorcycle results

SeasonTeamMachineNoRider12345678910111213141516171819PointsPoints
2003Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici12 Troy BaylissJPN
5
RSA
4
SPA
3
FRA
Ret
ITA
Ret
CAT
10
NED
9
GBR
5
GER
3
CZE
3
POR
6
RIO
10
PAC
Ret
MAL
9
AUS
Ret
VAL
7
6th1282nd225
2003Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici65 Loris CapirossiJPN
3
RSA
Ret
SPA
Ret
FRA
Ret
ITA
2
CAT
1
NED
6
GBR
4
GER
4
CZE
Ret
POR
3
RIO
6
PAC
8
MAL
6
AUS
2
VAL
3
4th1772nd225
2004Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici12 Troy BaylissRSA
14
SPA
Ret
FRA
8
ITA
4
CAT
Ret
NED
Ret
RIO
Ret
GER
Ret
GBR
5
CZE
Ret
POR
8
JPN
Ret
QAT
Ret
MAL
10
AUS
9
VAL
3
14th713rd169
2004Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici65 Loris CapirossiRSA
6
SPA
12
FRA
10
ITA
8
CAT
10
NED
8
RIO
4
GER
Ret
GBR
7
CZE
5
POR
7
JPN
Ret
QAT
Ret
MAL
6
AUS
3
VAL
9
9th1173rd169
2005Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici7 Carlos ChecaSPA
10
POR
5
CHN
Ret
FRA
Ret
ITA
5
CAT
11
NED
9
USA
Ret
GBR
5
GER
Ret
CZE
8
JPN
4
MAL
3
QAT
6
AUS
3
TUR
5
VAL
4
9th1383rd202
2005Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici23 Shinichi ItoESPPORCHNFRAITACATNEDUSAGBRGERCZEJPNMALQATAUSTUR
DSQ
VALNC03rd202
2005Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici65 Loris CapirossiSPA
13
POR
9
CHN
12
FRA
7
ITA
3
CAT
12
NED
10
USA
10
GBR
6
GER
9
CZE
2
JPN
1
MAL
1
QAT
10
AUSTURVAL
7
6th1573rd202
2006Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici12 Troy BaylissSPAQATTURCHNFRAITACATNEDGBRGERUSACZEMALAUSJPNPORVAL
1
19th253rd248
2006Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici15 Sete GibernauSPA
Ret
QAT
4
TUR
11
CHN
9
FRA
8
ITA
5
CAT
Ret
NEDGBRGER
8
USA
10
CZEMAL
5
AUS
4
JPN
4
POR
Ret
VAL13th953rd248
2006Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici65 Loris CapirossiSPA
1
QAT
3
TUR
6
CHN
8
FRA
2
ITA
2
CAT
Ret
NED
15
GBR
9
GER
5
USA
8
CZE
1
MAL
2
AUS
7
JPN
1
POR
12
VAL
2
3rd2293rd248
2006Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici66 Alex HofmannSPAQATTURCHNFRAITACATNED
12
GBR
13
GERUSACZE
16
MALAUSJPNPORVAL17th303rd248
2007Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici27 Casey StonerQAT
1
SPA
5
TUR
1
CHN
1
FRA
3
ITA
4
CAT
1
GBR
1
NED
2
GER
5
USA
1
CZE
1
RSM
1
POR
3
JPN
6
AUS
1
MAL
1
VAL
2
1st3671st394
2007Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici65 Loris CapirossiQAT
Ret
SPA
12
TUR
3
CHN
6
FRA
8
ITA
7
CAT
6
GBR
Ret
NED
Ret
GER
2
USA
Ret
CZE
6
RSM
5
POR
9
JPN
1
AUS
2
MAL
11
VAL
5
7th1661st394
2008Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici1 Casey StonerQAT
1
SPA
11
POR
6
CHN
3
FRA
16
ITA
2
CAT
3
GBR
1
NED
1
GER
1
USA
2
CZE
Ret
RSM
Ret
IND
4
JPN
2
AUS
1
MAL
6
VAL
1
2nd2802nd321
2008Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici33 Marco MelandriQAT
11
SPA
12
POR
13
CHN
5
FRA
15
ITA
Ret
CAT
11
GBR
16
NED
13
GER
Ret
USA
16
CZE
7
RSM
9
IND
19
JPN
13
AUS
16
MAL
16
VAL
16
17th512nd321
2009Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici27 Casey StonerQAT
1
JPN
4
SPA
3
FRA
5
ITA
1
CAT
3
NED
3
USA
4
GER
4
GBR
14
CZEINDRSMPOR
2
AUS
1
MAL
1
VAL
DNS
4th2203rd272
2009Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici36 Mika KallioQATJPNSPAFRAITACATNEDUSAGERGBRCZE
Ret
IND
8
RSM
7
PORAUSMALVAL20th93rd272
2009Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici69 Nicky HaydenQAT
12
JPN
Ret
SPA
15
FRA
12
ITA
12
CAT
10
NED
8
USA
5
GER
8
GBR
15
CZE
6
IND
3
RSM
Ret
POR
8
AUS
15
MAL
5
VAL
5
13th1043rd272
2010Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici27 Casey StonerQAT
Ret
SPA
5
FRA
Ret
ITA
4
GBR
5
NED
3
CAT
3
GER
3
USA
2
CZE
3
IND
Ret
RSM
5
ARA
1
JPN
1
MAL
Ret
AUS
1
POR
Ret
VAL
2
4th2253rd286
2010Ducati Marlboro TeamDucati Desmosedici69 Nicky HaydenQAT
4
SPA
4
FRA
4
ITA
Ret
GBR
4
NED
7
CAT
8
GER
7
USA
5
CZE
6
IND
6
RSM
Ret
ARA
3
JPN
12
MAL
6
AUS
4
POR
5
VAL
Ret
7th1633rd286
2011Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici46 Valentino RossiQAT
7
SPA
5
POR
5
FRA
3
CAT
5
GBR
6
NED
4
ITA
6
GER
9
USA
6
CZE
6
IND
10
RSM
7
ARA
10
JPN
Ret
AUS
Ret
MAL
C
VAL
Ret
7th1393rd180
2011Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici69 Nicky HaydenQAT
9
SPA
3
POR
9
FRA
7
CAT
8
GBR
4
NED
5
ITA
10
GER
8
USA
7
CZE
7
IND
14
RSM
Ret
ARA
7
JPN
7
AUS
7
MAL
C
VAL
Ret
8th1323rd180
2012Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici46 Valentino RossiQAT
10
SPA
9
POR
7
FRA
2
CAT
7
GBR
9
NED
13
GER
6
ITA
5
USA
Ret
IND
7
CZE
7
RSM
2
ARA
8
JPN
7
MAL
5
AUS
7
VAL
10
6th1633rd192
2012Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici69 Nicky HaydenQAT
6
SPA
8
POR
11
FRA
6
CAT
9
GBR
7
NED
6
GER
10
ITA
7
USA
6
IND
DNS
CZERSM
7
ARA
Ret
JPN
8
MAL
4
AUS
8
VAL
Ret
9th1223rd192
2013Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici04 Andrea DoviziosoQAT
7
AME
7
SPA
8
FRA
4
ITA
5
CAT
7
NED
10
GER
7
USA
9
IND
10
CZE
7
GBR
Ret
RSM
8
ARA
8
MAL
8
AUS
9
JPN
10
VAL
9
8th1403rd155
2013Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici51 Michele PirroQATAMESPA
11
FRAITA
7
CATNEDGERUSAINDCZEGBRRSMARAMALAUSJPNVAL
10
13th563rd155
2013Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici69 Nicky HaydenQAT
8
AME
9
SPA
7
FRA
5
ITA
6
CAT
Ret
NED
11
GER
9
USA
8
IND
9
CZE
8
GBR
8
RSM
9
ARA
9
MAL
Ret
AUS
7
JPN
9
VAL
8
9th1263rd155
2014Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici04 Andrea DoviziosoQAT
5
AME
3
ARG
9
SPA
5
FRA
8
ITA
6
CAT
8
NED
2
GER
8
IND
7
CZE
6
GBR
5
RSM
4
ARA
Ret
JPN
5
AUS
4
MAL
8
VAL
4
5th1873rd211
2014Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici35 Cal CrutchlowQAT
6
AME
Ret
ARGSPA
Ret
FRA
11
ITA
Ret
CAT
Ret
NED
9
GER
10
IND
8
CZE
Ret
GBR
12
RSM
9
ARA
3
JPN
Ret
AUS
Ret
MAL
Ret
VAL
5
13th743rd211
2014Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici51 Michele PirroQATAMEARG
17
19th183rd211
2014Ducati Test TeamDucati Desmosedici51 Michele PirroSPA
Ret
FRAITA
11
CAT
14
NEDGERINDCZE
12
GBRRSMARAJPNAUSMALVAL
9
19th183rd211
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici04 Andrea DoviziosoQAT
2
AME
2
ARG
2
SPA
9
FRA
3
ITA
Ret
CAT
Ret
NED
12
GER
Ret
IND
9
CZE
6
GBR
3
RSM
8
ARA
5
JPN
5
AUS
13
MAL
Ret
VAL
7
7th1623rd256
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici29 Andrea IannoneQAT
3
AME
5
ARG
4
SPA
6
FRA
5
ITA
2
CAT
4
NED
4
GER
5
IND
5
CZE
4
GBR
8
RSM
7
ARA
4
JPN
Ret
AUS
3
MAL
Ret
VAL
Ret
5th1883rd256
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici51 Michele PirroQATAMEARGSPAFRAITA
8
CATNEDGERINDCZEGBRRSM
Ret
ARAJPNAUSMALVAL
12
21st123rd256
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici04 Andrea DoviziosoQAT
2
ARG
13
AME
Ret
SPA
Ret
FRA
Ret
ITA
5
CAT
7
NED
Ret
GER
3
AUT
2
CZE
Ret
GBR
6
RSM
6
ARA
11
JPN
2
AUS
4
MAL
1
VAL
7
5th1713rd296
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici8 Héctor BarberáQATARGAMESPAFRAITACATNEDGERAUTCZEGBRRSMARAJPN
17
AUS
Ret
MALVAL10th0 3rd296
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici29 Andrea IannoneQAT
Ret
ARG
Ret
AME
3
SPA
7
FRA
Ret
ITA
3
CAT
Ret
NED
5
GER
5
AUT
1
CZE
8
GBR
Ret
RSM
DNS
ARA
WD
JPNAUSMAL
Ret
VAL
3
9th1123rd296
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici51 Michele PirroQATARGAMESPAFRAITA
10
CATNEDGERAUT
12
CZEGBRRSM
7
ARA
12
JPNAUSMALVAL19th13 3rd296
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici04 Andrea DoviziosoQAT
2
ARG
Ret
AME
6
SPA
5
FRA
4
ITA
1
CAT
1
NED
5
GER
8
CZE
6
AUT
1
GBR
1
RSM
3
ARA
7
JPN
1
AUS
13
MAL
1
VAL
Ret
2nd2613rd398
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici51 Michele PirroQATARGAMESPAFRAITA
9
CATNEDGERAUTCZEGBRRSM
5
ARAJPNAUSMALVAL
9
23rd25 3rd398
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici99 Jorge LorenzoQAT
11
ARG
Ret
AME
9
SPA
3
FRA
6
ITA
8
CAT
4
NED
15
GER
11
CZE
15
AUT
4
GBR
5
RSM
Ret
ARA
3
JPN
6
AUS
15
MAL
2
VAL
Ret
7th1373rd398
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici04 Andrea DoviziosoQAT
1
ARG
6
AME
5
SPA
Ret
FRA
Ret
ITA
2
CAT
Ret
NED
4
GER
7
CZE
1
AUT
3
GBR
C
RSM
1
ARA
2
THA
2
JPN
18
AUS
3
MAL
6
VAL
1
2nd2453rd*363*
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici19 Alvaro BautistaQATARGAMESPAFRAITACATNEDGERCZEAUTGBRRSMARATHAJPNAUS
4
MALVAL12th*13 *3rd*363*
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici51 Michele PirroQATARGAMESPAFRAITA
DNS
CATNEDGERCZEAUTGBRRSM
15
ARATHAJPNAUSMAL
Ret
VAL27th*1*3rd*363*
Ducati TeamDucati Desmosedici99 Jorge LorenzoQAT
Ret
ARG
15
AME
11
SPA
Ret
FRA
6
ITA
1
CAT
1
NED
7
GER
6
CZE
2
AUT
1
GBR
C
RSM
17
ARA
Ret
THA
DNS
JPN
DNS
AUSMAL
WD
VAL
12
10th*130*3rd*363*

;Notes
* Season still in progress.

Superbike World Championship (SBK)

Ducati has been taking part in the Superbike World Championship since it began in until, then came back for, with the race organisation delivered by Bologna-based Feel Racing.

World Superbike history

Using V-twin engines Ducati was able to dominate the championship for many years. Ducati won its first riders' championship in with Raymond Roche. The title was won by Doug Polen riding for the customer team managed by Eraldo Ferracci. From to Carl Fogarty won the title 4 times on Ducatis. Australian Troy Corser won the title on a factory-spec Ducati fielded by Austrian team Promotor Racing.
In Troy Bayliss won the first of his three titles.
In, the rule changes in MotoGP allowing 4-stroke engines meant that the Japanese manufacturers had focused their resources there, leaving the Superbike World Championship with limited factory involvement. Ducati Corse entered the only 2 Ducati 999s in the field, taking 20 wins from 24 races in a season where all races were won by Ducati. Neil Hodgson won the title on a Factory Ducati, while the team finished the season with 600 points, a record point score by a constructor in a season. was a similar story, James Toseland winning the title although Ten Kate Honda's Chris Vermeulen prevented a Ducati clean-sweep.
saw the return of Bayliss to the Superbike World Championship after 3 years in MotoGP. The combination of Bayliss and Ducati proved unstoppable and they dominated the season winning 12 races.
In, Troy Bayliss finished fourth riding once again a Ducati 999. Even though production of the 999 ended in 2006 and the bike was replaced by the Ducati 1098, Ducati produced 150 limited edition 999s to satisfy homologation requirements.
For, Ducati raced a homologated version of the 1098R. The FIM, the sanctioning body for the Superbike World Championship, raised the displacement limit for 2 cylinder engines to 1,200 cc. Bayliss won his third world championship and retired at the end of the 2008 season.
saw Noriyuki Haga, who replaced Bayliss, partnered with Michel Fabrizio. Haga had a fantastic season on Ducati but lost the championship by 6 points; Haga ended the season as second while Fabrizio as third in overall championship standing.
Once again, began with Noriyuki Haga partnering with Michel Fabrizio for Ducati in SBK.
On 27 August 2010, it was announced that Ducati SBK will no longer compete with a factory team in 2011, after 23 seasons which had brought the marque a total of 29 riders' and manufacturers' championship titles, instead limiting their participation to privateer teams running their works bikes.
During 2011-12 Ducati gave factory support to Althea Racing privateer team, winning the title with Carlos Checa.
Having parted from Althea at the end of 2012, for Ducati supported Francis Batta's Alstare Racing team introducing the new 1199 Panigale R in the world championship.
On 15 November 2013, it was announced that Ducati would be returning as a factory team in SBK as Ducati Superbike Team.
For the returning factory team signed Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano.
Davies was runner-up in 2015, 2017 and 2018, and third in 2016. Teammate Marco Melandri finished 4th in 2017 and 5th in 2018. The Italian was replaced by Álvaro Bautista in 2019. The Spaniard began the season with 11 consecutive wins, but later had mixed results.