Diavel - Ducati
Transcription
Diavel - Ducati
DUCATI DUCATI ducati.com 01 I 2012 Lifestyle Bikes, fashion, accessories 0 2012 8,- EUR 10,- USD Ducatisti Racers, heroes, champions The Redline Magazine Diavel Speedy, sexy, stunning Superbike 1199 Panigale From the racetrack to the road Editorial Welcome to Ducati! All about our passion for racing, technology, lifestyle and design. This magazine has been put together to tell you all about a year in the life of Ducati. Direct from our HQ in Borgo Panigale, it follows the adventures of our heroes, riders and enthusiasts and includes behind-the-scenes reports, as well as updates on our bikes, details of the new apparel collection, and much, much more. The most exciting thing for us is that this magazine will be enjoyed by Ducatisti the world over. Ducati can be described in three magic words: Authentic, Italian, Performance. Ducati is Authentic. Our authenticity is important to us, especially when it comes to exclusive technological solutions like the Desmo, which have become our distinctive trademark. Gabriele Del Torchio Photo: Thorsten Doerk, Cover Heiko Simayer CEO and President of Ducati Motor Holding Ducati is Italian. The Ducati factory is located in the heart of Emilia Romagna, in an area known as “Motor Valley”. We are proud to be Italian. We are proud of our family, our tradition, our heritage. And of course we are particularly proud of the fact that Ducati is seen as an ambassador for Italian manufacturing around the world. Ducati is Performance. Competition is part of our DNA and the track acts as a testing ground for the technology we apply to our motorcycles. The track is also a place full of passion that we share with Ducati fans all over the world. Like Hegel, we believe that “Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion”. These three words sum up the excellence of the Ducati brand. A brand that refuses to compromise on design, performance, comfort, safety or control. Our bikes are living proof of that, on all kinds of roads, world-wide. And our latest creation, the amazing new 1199 Panigale Superbike, sets an unprecedented standard in supersport performance and style. Riding pleasure and lifestyle at its best. ___ 3 Content Meant for people who live out their dreams 6 58 24 Ducati has become a synonym for sportiness and performance – all around the world. 72 52 104 48 122 68 90 32 110 126 “For me, riding a motorcycle is the epitome of freedom,” says Aldo Drudi, whose designs have been definitive for Ducati’s collections, from helmets to leather suits, for a decade. More than 30 years ago, when the designer first began giving Grand Prix riders a face and a brand, he was a pioneer. It was an era in which anything seemed possible. There was the incredible victory scored in 1978 by Mike Hailwood™, when he won the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy on a Ducati 900 NCR. Back then, just as now, the story of Ducati is above all a story of legendary motorcycles and of men like Hailwood™ who chose them to tackle their races and made the name of Ducati known throughout the world. Paolo Pirozzi, a delighted Ducatista and president of an official Ducati club, has now taken this mission literally: he has travelled around the world on his trusty Multistrada 1200 for the Ducati club in Naples, an experience which has served to confirm the Ducati multi-purpose model’s extreme durability. Successes such as these are only possible because Ducati’s engineers and designers are firmly focused on winning. For decades now, in the single-minded pursuit of their central aim to make the world’s best motorcycles better still, they have produced innovation after groundbreaking innovation which have given Ducati that technological edge which translates into triumph on the racetrack. This is our home. If you hear “Ducati”, you think “racetrack”. You think of riders like Troy Bayliss, Carlos Checa, Nicky Hayden or Valentino Rossi, each one of them such a fascinating figure that there’s no way to rank them apart from alphabetically. You think of bikes born of passion, such as the new Superbike 1199 Panigale, an ultimate racer and a homage to its origins, or the Ducati Diavel, perfect for a devilishly pleasurable motorcycling experience. You think of the amazing atmosphere created by enthusiastic fans who want to cheer on their heroes and show their pride for all to see – with the Ducati collections “Corse”, “Heritage”, “Company” and “Kids”, they’ll always have a new and different way of wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Ducati is quite simply more than motorcycles. It is a lifestyle. 5 Photo Markus Bolsinger Text Francesca Corello Super bike The Italian company is proud to present its latest creation: the 1199 Panigale. Designed without compromises and with only one objective: to win. Speedy and safe: The 1199 Panigale was put through the toughest of tests. 6 7 Training on the track: Hundreds upon hundreds of laps to achieve a perfect synthesis of maximum performance and absolute reliability. 8 9 Superbike Born from passion: the Ducati 1199 Panigale T he 1199 Panigale might have been born on the racetrack, but its given name is an expression of the deep connection its manufacturer feels to its home: Borgo Panigale is the name of the district in Bologna where Ducati was founded and has had its headquarters to this day. This new Superbike’s innovative technology and design seems to consist of nothing but superlatives – it’s a real standardsetter for the competition. The Bologna brand’s latest racing machine owes its existence to the passion and commitment of Ducati’s employees; every single one of them takes great pride in being a standardbearer for world-famous Italian motorcycle creation. More than ever before, Ducati has harnessed the experience of its racing department in the development of production motorcycle, incorporating every technical innovation developed over recent years. The 1199 Panigale is the first Ducati Superbike to feature aluminium casing instead of a tubular Trellis frame. “Our choice to use this monocoque was an important milestone on the path to our ultimate goal for this project: the new model had to weigh at least 10 kg (22lb) less than the 1198, which is still the lightest sporting motorcycle the world has seen so far“, reveals Cristian Gasparri, project manager responsible for the development of the 1199 Panigale. “We were aware that it wouldn’t do just to endlessly search for a way to make each individual part lighter. The challenge we faced went a lot further than that: We needed to find a way of integrating individual functions in such a manner as to reduce the number of components and therefore the machine’s overall weight “We used particular materials such as magneas much as possible. The monocoque (frame and airbox) is the perfect sium alloys in order to make the engine lighter. example of this concept with its focus on integration and efficiency.” Weight was right up there with time as our The monocoque frame’s key component is the new Superquadro en- strongest opponent“, explains Marco Sairu, progine, whose L-shaped arrangement and the famous Desmodromic valve ject manager for the engines. “Our objective control were retained from other Ducati engines, but the rest of which is the very epitome of innovation. Beguiling beauty: the prototype The wheel base is relatively short, but this did not alone is fit to fall in love with get in the way of installing a long rocker arm which gives the engine greater stability and transfers the Superquadro’s unbelievable power to the road. The exhaust system’s was to develop an extremely powerful engine silencer is positioned underneath the engine, whose more forward-placed in record time.” position helps centre the bike’s mass and optimises its driving perfor“We began with an absolutely clean slate: mance. The machine’s sophisticated electronics assist the rider in han- Apart from some indispensable, traditional dling the vehicle dynamics, while the engine’s 195hp make a racing rider Ducati elements, such as the Desmo and the 90° of anyone who mounts a 1199 Panigale. L-shaped layout, this engine has only about 10 20 components in common with its predecessors. We developed all the rest more or less from scratch.” Marco Sairu is confident that the engine is as precise as a watch whose gears all fit perfectly into one another. “Sometimes it was a bit like playing the computer game Tetris”. And here’s the result: 195hp, the unmistakable Ducati engine roar and, of course, outstanding performance. As well as being an amazing motorcycle, the 1199 Panigale is also a big thank-you to all Ducatisti the world over who remain true to the red racers from Borgo Panigale and long to experience that unique Ducati feeling in their dayto-day lives as well as on the racetrack. This was the dream for which Ducati’s people gave their all, whether on the test track or in the factory. ___ Teamwork: Engineers, mechanics and riders tirelessly put the new Superbike through its paces, their precision tools reminiscent of surgeons’ operating instruments. 11 12 13 14 15 Revolution of the species The 1199 Panigale is the latest creation in a series of remarkable twincylinder sport bikes made by Ducati during the last 25 years. T 16 © Ducati he story begins with the 851, which was intro- top. This is not just because of its lightweight duced in 1987 (24 years ago!), a year that marks and improved performance. The 1199 Panigale, the birth of the “modern” Ducati, introducing to just like every Ducati sport bike, delivers breaththe market the concept of high performance twin- taking design and first class technical innovacylinder engines. Prior to this, powerful sport bikes were always equipped tions, ranging from the full LED headlight to the with four-cylinder engines, usually made in Japan. The introduction of matrix TFT colour display and electronic suspenthe water-cooled Desmoquattro engine of the 851 model, with four valves sion. There are numerous features that highlight per cylinder and computerised fuel injection, instantly placed Ducati at the strenuous effort applied in order to achieve the heart of sport bike competition. Thanks to this model Ducati started a reduction of weight, such as the ultra-light alto take part in the Superbike World Championship, winning, to date, a uminium machined rims created in order to regrand total of 17 world titles, and over 300 race victories, thus making duce the thickness and achieve reduced moDucati and its twin-cylinder sport bikes the most award-winning motor- ments of inertia. With the 1199 Panigale, it is our intention to cycle manufacturer in the Superbike World Championship. The 851 was then replaced by the 888 and, in 1994, by the remarkable 916, which, ac- re-emphasise the importance of sport bikes for cording to many observers, represented the best motorbike produced our brand. The start of the races is almost upon us: Ducati Corse has been part of the developworldwide in the 90s. Distinctive Ducati standards – stunning design, great driving experience and blistering acceleration as well as sportiness were more evident than “It has been a great challenge” they had ever been before. The 916 was followed by the 996 and the 998, which introduced an important evolution of the Testastretta engine which completely revolution- ment team from the very beginning. They supised the design of the cylinder head, reducing the angle of the valves and plied the basic instructions in order to ensure which was then replaced in 2003 by the 999. This proved to be a contro- that the 1199 Panigale was equipped with state versial motorbike which divided Ducati owners and fans into two op- of the art design, engineering and technology posing sides. In 2007, the 1098 was born. This ultra-light and powerful used in SBK as well as all their experience with motorbike included many of the key features of the 916: it proved to be a the MotoGP engines, and today we are able to great success. The 1198 model subsequently followed with the latest mod- give them back an excellent foundation for the ification of the Testastretta engine. In 2012, Ducati will introduce the 1199 Superstock and Superbike Championships. It has Panigale. Four years of development and one objective: to fuel feelings been a great challenge, often delving deep into and emotions in a way that only a Ducati sport bike can. For the first time unexplored technological territory, and it has in this fascinating history of sport bikes, all rigorously red and twin-en- been only with the help of a dedicated team of gine, the 1199 Panigale has an entirely new engine – the Superquadro, passionate, competent technicians and motorthus named because of its 112 mm bore – which introduces an extreme cycle racers, of which I am proud to be a part, concept of integration between the motorbike and the engine and thus that we have been able to rise to this chal___ raises the performance bar to its highest for this category of motorbikes. lenge. Over 10kg lighter than the 1198 (which at present boasts the title of lightest sport bike available on the market) and with over 20 more horse- Claudio Domenicali power than the previous model, the 1199 Panigale stands unrivaled at the Director, Ducati Motor Holding The gears of the new transmission and water pump. Next page: the new Superquadro, up close and personal. 18 19 Superbike 1199 Panigale S The new Superbike is a milestone in motorcycle history, setting entirely new sporting standards. Its exceptionally powerful design alone raises it to the status of a motorcycle construction icon. Virgin territory The 1199 Panigale is notable for the innovative ideas that have gone into its design. For instance, it has aban- doned the conventional tubular Trellis frame in favour of an aluminium monocoque which integrates the engine as a key component. A standard-setting twin-cylinder The engine, the most powerful twincylinder ever built, makes the 1199 a force to be reckoned with on the racetrack. Up-to-the-minute electronics convert its power perfectly into speed. Type: Superquadro, L-twin cylinder, Desmodromic distribution Displacement: 1198 cc Bore x Stroke: 112 x 60,8 mm Compression Ratio: 12,5 : 1 Power: 195 hp (143 kw) @ 10,750 rpm Torque: 13,5 Kgm (132 Nm) @ 9.000 rpm Fuel injection: Electronic fuel injection system, full ride-by-wire elliptical throttle bodies Dry weight: 164 kg Apparel Racing leather suit with composite protectors, aerodynamic hump, kneepads and aluminium shoulder inserts. Ducati Corse 12 racing suit A helmet that’s truly in a class of its own. The shell, made of composite fibre, guarantees high resistance to knocks and crashes. The upper part of the shell is additionally surrounded by a reinforcing protective ring which boosts the helmet’s performance further still. The removable inner lining is ergonomically designed and covered with dry-cool material. RX GP-7 Ducati Corse 12 full-face helmet 21 Open your mind Aldo Drudi was a young designer when he started to give GP pilots a face, and his helmet designs made him a pioneer in the fields. In hindsight, it was bound to be only a matter of time before Drudi and Ducati teamed up. Their first meeting over ten years ago saw them become partners at first and then become friends. Now the star designer reveals himself in his studio perched above the roofs of Riccione. Photo Thorsten Doerk Text Nicole Hille-Priebe S ome people like to make clean starts. For Aldo from outside you. You find inspiration in the Drudi, every blank sheet of paper in the impres- world, not in yourself. You have to be curious.” sive pile on his desk is a piece of a future that Drudi is often drawn to the stony coastline has not yet been described, a bridge that spans below his hometown of Cattolica, where the the gap between vision and reality. There isn’t a screen or a trackpad region of Emilia-Romagna borders Marche. to be seen anywhere in his studio. “Basically, I don’t use a computer Here, at the end of the 1970s, he got to know for work – it erases your memories. If you save your creative recollec- Grand Prix racer Graziano Rossi. The two men tions on a hard drive, you run the risk of copying yourself at some became friends and, in the early hours of the point. I feel free when I have a white sheet of paper in front of me.” day, they would take their cross motorcycles Maybe this opinion is the secret behind Drudi’s success: he has been to the beach and tear across the shorelines, the creative genius behind Ducati’s helmets, leathers, jackets and which the Adriatic had turned into a flawless clothes for over ten years. Over and over again, his creations have racetrack at night. “Today,” says Adro Drudi, been fresh, surprising and unique. crossing his wrists emphatically, “they’d lock The 52-year-old star designer works from his studio on the top floor you up for that.” A lot has changed. Drudi has gone from of a residential block in Riccione, a holiday resort near Rimini. “Ducati makes legends of champions – and I give them their face,” he says. being a student to being one of the most Behind the glass of a huge panoramic window, you can see the tops of pine trees glowing in changing “You have to be curious“ shades of green. Taking in the vista, your eye sweeps over rooftops and train tracks until your lose yourself in the endless blue of the sky over the Adriatic. After motorcycles, sought-after designers in motorcycling. And the sea is the second key to Drudi’s soul. As an artist, he must repeat- the Grand Prix rider called Rossi goes by the edly reinvent himself and break free from the limits imposed by his first name of Valentino: he’s Graziano’s son own line of sight. “Inspiration doesn’t come from within – it comes and world champion nine times over. Room with a view: Aldo Drudi has had a giant panoramic window installed in his studio in Riccione. 24 Handmade: Aldo Drudi starts his designs on paper rather than on a computer. He then transfers the design directly to the helmet. Magic: The four elements – fire, water, earth and air – on this Valentino Rossi helmet are intended to be a source of strength to the world champion. An oasis of peace and quiet: Aldo Drudi’s atelier is a place where he can work and relax. But there’s still no lack of references to the world of motorcycles. “For me, riding a motorcycle is the epitome of freedom” 27 Aldo Drudi has known the racetrack rock star ever since he was born in 1979. While Rossi junior was growing up, Drudi’s reputation also grew as the creator of logos, outfits and motorcycle clothing for the stars of the motorcycle circuit. His fingerprint on “Drudi Performance” became synonymous with the very highest quality, innovative style and true passion for racing. “If you want to do your job right, you have to ride a motorcycle yourself. You have to know how it feels to become almost like an animal when you’re in the saddle and feel the bond between you, the person, and your bike, the machine.” So it was also just a matter of time before Ducati and Drudi found common ground in their values and ideals. “There’s no pressure, only trust,” is how the designer describes the relationship between these two key players in international racing. He adds, “And, above all, there’s mutual respect!” Drudi particularly values the unvarying quality of Ducati’s products, the company’s innovative ideas and its sheer determination to be the best. Though he knows the company as well as if it were a good friend, he still views his trips to Borgo Panigale as one of the most important sources of inspiration. “Ducati is something very special, it’s fashion and the Italian lifestyle at their purest. This has to be on show not just in outfits and motorcycles’ designs when on the racetrack, but it is also in the brand’s clothing collections. If you head to a party in the evening and wear Ducati while you stand on the rooftop terrace with a glass of wine in your hand, you’re doing the right thing.” It’s not possible to learn this lightness of touch. It’s a gift from Italy itself, just like the sunshine which makes its wine special and its people happy. “When I started working as a designer, I was lucky enough to be a pioneer in my field.” Today, he only works with the best and for the best. He turns tradition, history and legends into fluorescent colours and shapes that are the unmistakable hallmark of champions. “Racing is the hardest test for everyone: riders, motorcycles, colours. If something is a winner on the racetrack, it’ll win on the market too.” To Drudi, his designs are more than just mere decoration: they are magical. They are created to give strength to riders. “People need rituals. When Native Americans went on the warpath, the paint their warriors used on their bodies and faces didn’t just help to make them seem more fierce, it also served to combat their own fears.” ___ Inspiration: When he hears the call of the sea, Aldo Drudi usually heads to the rocky coastline close to his birthplace Cattolica (left). Later on, the results of these creative breaks appear in all their glory on the racetrack – or in his studio, where racing suits worn by Valentino Rossi have a place of honour (below). To Drudi, his designs are more than just mere decoration: they are magical Pioneering: Aldo Drudi compares his designs with Native American war paint; their purpose is to transform themselves into the riders’ unmistakable defining characteristics, give them strength – and help them to combat their fear. 29 © Oakley Icon Ltd, 2011 Full Speed. Full Style. Ducati Collection Nicky Hayden Signature Series HOLBROOK™ NICKY HAYDEN MotoGP Photo Sven Cichowicz They’ve been designed to deliver security and performance. Every detail announces this intention – the material used, the protectors and the items’ ergonomics. But the helmets, jackets and leathers from our Corse collection do more than simply fulfil an important function: just like all of the other accessories in the collection, they underscore the racing spirit of the Ducati brand. The message they reinforce: dynamics, passion, and the desire to win! These are three attributes reflected in the colours the items use. Black, white and red combinations give the Corse line its powerful signature style. Race Appeal 32 Leather D-skin racing suit with composite protectors, aerodynanic hump, sliders and aluminium shoulders. Ducati Corse 12 racing suit Fibreglass racing helmet with thermoformed visor and removable and washable lining. RX GP-7 Ducati Corse 12 full-face helmet Stretched cotton vests with embroidered patch over carbon fibre base. Ducati Corse 12 singlet 33 Hi-tech D-skin leather jacket with composite shoulder and elbow protectors. Fits back guard and chest protector. Ducati Corse 12 D-skin leather jacket Fibreglass helmet with thermoformed visor and D-ring fastening. Ducati Corse SBK full-face helmet Her: two-piece D-skin leather racing suit with composite protectors, aerodynamic hump, knee-sliders and aluminium on the shoulders. Ducati Corse two-piece suit 34 35 Sweatshirt with print and Ducati Corse patch embroidered in real carbon fibre: hooded and half- zip for him, full zip for her. Ducati 12 Corse sweatshirt 36 1 3 2 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 38 Cotton Ducati Corse polo, slightly stretchy. Ducati Corse 12 polo shirt Like two jackets in one. Black for understated elegance, red for eye-catching assertiveness. Ducati Corse 12 Double Face Jacket Jackets with protectors in high-tech fabric with waterproof and breathable membrane. Removable thermal lining and back guard. Ducati Corse logo jackets Fibreglass helmet with thermoformed visor and D-ring fastening. Ducati Corse Superbike helmet Stretched cotton vests with embroidered patch in real carbon fibre. Ducati Corse 12 singlet 39 Ultra-light sunglasses thanks to metal frame with anti UV Plutonite® lenses. Plantiff® sunglasses Hi-tech D-skin leather jacket with composite shoulder and elbow protectors. Fits back guard and chest protector. Ducati Corse 12 leather jacket Hi-tech leather gloves with thermoplastic resin and steel inserts. Ducati Corse 12 gloves 40 41 Jacket with protectors in hi-tech fabric with waterproof and breathable membrane, aluminium shoulders and removable thermal lining; fits back guard. Ducati Corse jacket 42 43 Her: two-piece D-skin leather racing suit with composite protectors, aerodynamic hump, sliders, aluminium shoulders. Ducati Corse two-piece suit Him: Hi-tech stretch T-shirt in Dryarn® (keeps body temperature constant). Performance 11 T-shirt 44 Him: Racing boots with sliders and hard protectors. Ducati 1000 V3 Racing boots Two-piece racing suit with composite protectors, aluminium shoulders and sliders. Ducati Corse twopiece suit 45 1 2 3 5 4 1 2 3 4 5 Stretched cotton vests with patch embroidered with real carbon fibre. Ducati Corse 12 singlet Stay warm in style this winter with the Ducati Corse 12 beanie. Ducati Corse beanie Bathing suit. Blackriders swimsuit Cotton piquet Ducati Corse polo shirt. Ducati Corse polo shirt Cap with Ducati Corse carbon logo that is sporty and stylish. Ducati Corse Carbon Cap The Ducati Corse cap is the essence of trackside thrills. Ducati Corse 12 cap Ducati Corse gym bag: supplied with an internal shoe bag. Ducati Corse gym bag Set of two Ducati Corse towels. Ducati Corse towel set Ducati Monster 1100EVO The Ultimate Monster Evolution also means unprecedented thrills. With the 1100EVO we’ve perfected the formula that made the Monster the definitive naked icon. The 100 hp of the Desmodue Evoluzione, smoothly controlled at all times by the Ducati Safety Pack (ABS+ Ducati Traction Control, supplied as standard), together with a new sports-style exhaust and an improved riding position, puts the Monster 1100EVO in a whole new joy zone. Monster 1100EVO: we can describe its performance, the thrills remain beyond description. ducati.com 46 Official Sponsor Technical Partner Powered by Checa the champion “El Toro” grabs the opportunity by the horns: Carlos Checa rides his Ducati 1198 to victory in the 2011 Superbike World Championship. The fighting spirit, professional approach and sheer enthusiasm of Carlos Checa and the Althea team saw to it that a Ducati racer was the winner of the Superbike World Championship for the 14th time. The cup for the 17th factory team title has gone on display at the Ducati museum. © Ducati On the pinnacle of his success: In August 2011 in Silverstone, Carlos Checa scored Ducati’s 300th Superbike World Championship victory. Appropriately, the champion celebrated on one of Italy’s highest mountains, the Castore – “El Toro” is a keen amateur climber. Photo: Picture-Alliance Unbeatable: Carlos Checa and the Ducati 1198 have left their mark on the 2011 Superbike World Championship, a win which saw the Spanish rider crown a fantastic season with his first title. The SBK team had a lot to celebrate. 49 S ome years prove unforgettable: an experienced, first-class rider, a highly qualified team, a motorcycle of astounding performance. And then, of course, there’s the magic that happens when the bike and its rider fuse to form an inseparable, indeed unbeatable unit. The ingredients of the magical combination that dominated the 2011 Superbike World Championship were the Ducati 1198, Carlos Checa and Althea Ducati. Thanks to the fighting spirit, the professionalism and the enthusiasm shown by Carlos Checa and the Althea team, this year has seen the 14th triumph in the Superbike World Championships scored by a Ducati rider. The cup awarded for the 17th manufacturers’ title is now on show in the Ducati Museum. The Catalan rider became World Champion shortly before his 39th birthday. Just a few weeks previously, in Silverstone, he had propelled Ducati past the 300-win mark in the Superbike World Championship. By the end of the season, Checa the Champion had boosted this figure still more, to an amazing total of 306 wins for Ducati. This career highlight was quite a time in coming, although he had long since earned it. Of the 24 World Championship races, Checa triumphed in 15, including his final victory in Magny-Cours. Not even Carl Fogarty or Troy Bayliss at the peak of their careers were able to boast such proud numbers of wins. What’s the secret of this success story? “I trust the 1198 implicitly,” Checa says, putting it in a nutshell. “I can rely on a fabulous Ducati to do what I want it to.” He sees himself as being on his best-ever form: “I’ve always been honest with myself and reflected on how I can improve my performance.” It seems as if Carlos and his machine were quite simply ready for this triumphal moment. He adds: “Winning the World Championship title has made me ten years younger!” Over the course of his long career, Checa has amassed a huge wealth of experience. He made his Grand Prix debut at the age of 21 in 1993, riding a 125cc machine; just two years later, he was in the seat of a ferocious 500cc with a twin-stroke engine, achieving the first of two victories in this class in 1996. He reached his best World Championship placing in 1998, with a wildly celebrated home win in Jarama, Spain. Now Checa can wear the number 1 on his chest, along with his symbol, a 7 with bull’s horns. He may have achieved his goal, but he’s still hungry: “I’m raring to win races and defend my title in 2012.” Buena suerte, Carlos! ___ Carlos Checa Date of birth Height Weight Eye colour Hair colour 15 October 1972 175 cm (5ft 9in) 70 kg (154lb) brown brown, soon to be grey! Lucky number Racing number Hobby Favourite racecourse First victory (Catalunya) First place on the podium (Malaysia) Website 7 7 sport Laguna Seca 1996 1995 www.carloscheca.com Carlos and the Ducati 1198 were quite simply ready for this title © Ducati Top spot: Carlos Checa has arrived, celebrating his victory in Imola with unbounded joy on the podium. “Riding in the Superbike World Championship was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. That and joining Ducati!” said the newly crowned world champion after the race. Phenomenal: There were 24 races this season, and Carlos Checa stood on the winners’ podium no less than 21 times. His title win once again confirms his qualities – and the qualities of the Ducati 1198. This dream team proved that it’s the winning combination for every racetrack. Ernesto Marinelli, SBK Project Manager at Ducati, and Carlos celebrate the win at Silverstone. 51 Movie star Exit Wounds :::::::::: 2001 :::::::::: USA Ducati Monster Heroes, gangsters, aliens: wherever a character in an action film needs to make a quick getaway, there’s usually a Ducati involved. Text Nicole Hille-Priebe W hen Hollywood films get fast and furious, their stars can turn into heroes. It’s no coincidence that it’s often a Ducati helping them make the impossible possible: for decades now, directors have been so wowed by the Italian premium motorcycles that they have cast them in starring roles in their films. It all started in 1971, with Nadine Trintignant’s Franco-Italian masterpiece “Ça n'arrive qu'aux autres” starring Catherine Deneuve and Marcello Mastroianni. The Ducati Scrambler 250 featured in the film was a defining style icon of the time, well beyond Italy. Dramas, however, are rather the exception in the long list of films in which Ducatis have played key roles. The Ducati brand stands for power, design and performance – the perfect cocktail for fast and furious action films. For instance, the Ducati Hypermotard inspired the US director Joseph McGinty Nichol in 2009, in part four of the “Terminator” series of films, while developing the menacing “MotoTerminator”, which has the capacity for thought and can exercise control over itself. “In Terminator Salvation, technology reaches a level at 52 which it transforms into its own art form – that seems to me to be a highly apt description of Ducati as well,” stated “McG” when the film premiered. Six years previously, just after Ducati had joined the MotoGP, the Ducati 996 cut a stunning figure in “Matrix Reloaded”. The breathtaking chase scenes were shot on a disused US airbase on which “Matrix” creators the Wachowski brothers had a replica piece of highway built. The scene shows Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Ann Moss) fleeing once again from agents who are hard on their heels. Jumping from a bridge, Trinity and Neo land on a truck loaded up with 996s fresh from the factory – which go on to save them. This world-beating Ducati is the best possible weapon in the fight against space and time, Knight and Day :::::::::: 2010 :::::::::: USA Ducati Hypermotard 1100 53 Terminator 4 :::::::::: 2009 :::::::::: Matrix Reloaded :::::::::: 2003 :::::::::: USA giving the pursued pair a decisive edge with its velocity and extreme manoeuvrability. Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” (2010), starring Michael Douglas as unscrupulous moneyman Gordon Gekko, shows Ducati from another side altogether. Gekko’s adversary is the smart, self-assured stockbroker Jake (Shia LaBeouf), who aims to make the world a better place by investing in renewable energies and prefers riding a Ducati to being stuck in traffic queues. Mounted on the saddle of his Streetfighter S, New York’s rush hour traffic is the least of his problems. Cutting through the snarling traffic, his bike really comes into its own, as its harmonious shapes blend in perfectly with its surroundings. A Ducati Desmosedici RR also had a starring role in the film Wall Street. A year later, the action thriller “I Am Number Four” provided conclusive proof that Ducati’s popularity isn’t limited to planet Earth. What star Ducati Hypermotard USA Ducati Superbike 996 Teresa Palmer, touted as the next Angelina Jolie, loved most of all about making the film was the chance to ride a Ducati in her role as extra-terrestrial “Number Six”: “I play a warrior, a martial artist. I’m sexy, ride a Ducati and I’m not afraid of my enemies. In other words, it’s not a good idea to get on the wrong side of me.” She had spent two months in intensive training to prepare for the physically demanding role: “Stunts, shooting – and motorcycling: I rode a red Ducati 848. It was really exciting.” Spectacular chases featuring awe-inspiring stunts and leading to a nerve-racking last-minute rescue are trademarks of action films. In the fight TRON: Legacy :::::::::: 2010 :::::::::: USA Ducati Sport 1000 Unriveled power, streamlined design – the perfect star for ground-breaking action films 54 55 USA Blockbuster: Ducati in cinema Ducati Streetfighter and Desmosedici RR I Am Number Four :::::::::: 2011 :::::::::: USA between good and evil, the fastest person wins, and they’re often on two wheels. In the quadruple Oscar-winning science fiction film “Inception” (2010), Leonardo DiCaprio plays the mastermind of a group of industrial spies who enter other people’s dreams in order to manipulate them. The boundaries become blurred as the hunters become the hunted, suddenly trapped in the subconscious of their supposed victim, who backs them into a dangerous corner atop his black Ducati Streetfighter S. If anyone knows anything about action films, it’s Sylvester Stallone. When he took on the job of directing “The Expendables” (2010), featuring Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Jason Statham, and guest appearances by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, he insisted on selecting the motorcycles for the film personally. The favourite: the Ducati Desmosedici RR. Today, the motorcycle, which is said to have Ducati Superbike 848 originally belonged to Jason Statham, is owned by pro rider Jake Wand. “This Ducati is one of the most breathtaking motorcycles on the planet, and the fact that it has appeared in this film makes it even more unique.” The science fiction genre, again, has provided Ducati with one of the top highlights of its illustrious film career. In “Tron: Legacy”, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) finds himself trapped in the virtual reality of a computer program in which gladiators are forced to fight one another on Light Runners in a game arena. 20 years after Flynn’s disappearance, his son Sam (Garrett Stockbrokers, soldiers, saviours of the world: if you’re in a hurry, you need a Ducati 56 Hedlund) manages to open the interface between cyberspace and the real world to search for his father. Sam keeps the only memento he has of him, a Ducati 1000 Sport, in his apartment. When the two finally meet again in the program’s digi-tal grid, their first conversation centres on the legendary Ducati, whose raw charisma made it a classic even back when Flynn rode it. Ducati’s red carpet gets longer every year. Hollywood just loves its extra-special movie star, as is plain to see on this star-studded list of films with a fast-and-furious guest appearance all the way from Borgo Panigale. ___ _________________________ »Ça n‘arrive qu‘aux autres« 1971, France/Italy Ducati Scrambler 250 _________________________ »Fled« 1996, USA Ducati Superbike 748 _________________________ »Speed 2: Cruise Control« 1997, USA Ducati 916 _________________________ »Conspiracy Theory« 1997, USA Ducati SuperSport 900 _________________________ »Double Team« 1998, USA Ducati Monster 900 _________________________ »Armageddon« 1998, USA Ducati 748 _________________________ »Don‘t Say a Word« 2001, USA Ducati Monster 900 _________________________ »Driven« 2001, USA Ducati SuperSport 900 _________________________ »Exit Wounds« 2001, USA Ducati Monster _________________________ »Austin Powers in Goldmember« 2002, USA Ducati ST2 _________________________ »Rollerball« 2002, USA Ducati Monster 620 _________________________ »Blade II« 2002, USA Ducati ST2 _________________________ »Matrix Reloaded« 2003, USA Ducati Superbike 996 _________________________ »The Italian Job« 2003, USA Ducati Superbike 748 _________________________ »Ride or Die« 2003, USA Ducati SuperSport 900 Bollywood News _________________________ »Long way round« 2004, USA Ducati Superbike 748 _________________________ »Catwoman« 2004, USA Ducati Monster 620 Dark _________________________ »La tigre e la neve« 2005, Italy Ducati Superbike 748 _________________________ »The Simpsons« 2007, USA, Ducati Superbike 999 _________________________ »Terminator Salvation« 2009, USA Ducati Hypermotard _________________________ »Yes Man« 2009, USA Hypermotard 1100 _________________________ »The Expendables« 2010, USA Ducati Desmosedici RR _________________________ »Wall Street: Money never sleeps« 2010, USA Ducati Streetfighter and Desmosedici RR _________________________ »Knight and Day« 2010, USA Ducati Hypermotard 1100 _________________________ »Tron: Legacy« 2010, USA Ducati Sport 1000 _________________________ »Inception« 2010, USA Ducati Streetfighter 1098 _________________________ »Fast and Furious 5« 2011, USA Ducati Streetfighter 1098s _________________________ »I Am Number Four« 2011, USA Ducati Superbike 848 _________________________ »Haywire« 2012, USA Ducati Monster 696 »Ra.One« 2011, India Ducati Monster 1100 »Don 2« 2011, India Monster 1100, Streetfighter, Multistrada 1200 Movie still life Knight and Day / Creditline: © 2010 TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX, Italian Movie poster Knight and Day / Creditline: © 2010 TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX, Movie poster Matrix Reloaded / Creditline: © 2003 WARNER BROS., Movie Poster Terminator Salvation / © 2009 T Asset Acquisition Company / LLC. All Rights Reserved, Movie still life Terminator Salvation / Creditline: © 2009 T Asset Acquisition Company / LLC. All Rights Reserved, Movie poster Tron / © 2010 Disney Enterprises / Inc. All Rights Reserved, Movie poster Wallstreet / © 2010 TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX, Movie poster I’m Number Four / © 2011 Dreamworks Pictures, Exit Wounds / Terminator 4 / Tron Legacy / Matrix Reloaded / I’m Number Four and Wallstreet / Kobal Collection, Bollywood: Don 2 / © 2010 Rapid Eye Movies / Ra One / © 2011 EROS INTERNATIONAL / RED CHILLIES ENTERTAINMENT Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps :::::::::: 2011 :::::::::: Black Beauty The city is its catwalk: Milan is the perfect stage for the Ducati Diavel to show how thrillingly different it is. It’s black, strong and sexy – and always up for an adventure in the urban jungle. 58 Photos Markus Bolsinger Text Nicole Hille-Priebe J ust imagine for a moment that you’re sitting at your desk – which is located in Milan. Your office is situated on the top floor of a building which features prominently in architectural tours of the city. But even an expansive skylight can’t provide surefire protection against cabin fever – and it happens to strike on the very day you have an important meeting scheduled. The deal’s just about closed, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need to be absolutely on the ball during the negotiations. The client is due to arrive in two hours. Looking out of the window, you see the breeze blowing the clouds across the sky. You think of your Ducati Diavel in your parking space in the basement garage, still warm from taking you to the office. And you know it’s up to you what you make out of this moment. Imagine changing your business suit for your motorcycling gear, which you’d only just hung up for the working day. The trousers and jacket from the black Diavel clothing series, made of soft calf leather, fit like a second skin without restricting your freedom of movement. On the way to the lift, you pick up your silver and black Arai helmet; its design is the perfect complement to the sporty elegance of your outfit. Just as the lift’s doors open in the basement garage, you close your visor with a single movement. Imagine starting the ignition and filling the air with the engine’s powerful vibrations in the mere blink of an eye. The Ducati trademark’s sound rises, powerful, muscular, untamed. In a brief moment, out in the traffic of the city, the Diavel will show off its elegant side, but down here is the ideal space for the lion to let out its roar. After all, “Diavel” means nothing other, in the Bolognese dialect of its home region, than “devil” – and should the emphatic sound of its Desmodromic engine be heard down in hell like a rumble of infernal thunder, the devil would be likely to feel quite flattered. Imagine giving yourself the gift of two hours. 120 minutes, 7,200 seconds or, on the Diavel, 500 kilometres (311 miles) – one way and only if the road is clear, of course. Now all you need is to keep your head. Ready for take-off: With its powerful rear section, a tubular frame that’s been whittled down on the side and its lowmounted, spindle-shaped fuel tank, the Ducati Diavel looks ready to roar down the street at a moment’s notice – even when it’s parked. Lap of honour: Milan is a pulsating, creative metropolis with a population of millions – and deserves a soundtrack to match. The unfettered sound of the Ducati twin-cylinder makes for a grand backdrop to the ride. 61 Milano downtown: Time for a short break at the Colonne di San Lorenzo. The imposing pillars in front of the basilica of San Lorenzo originate from Roman times, while the historic buildings and the piazzas reveal all the beauty of the Milan of days gone by. The best way to enjoy this special atmosphere is to stop for an espresso in one of the many little bars in this district. Anyway, we’re in Milan, and in Milan, time has a quality you can’t measure in kilometres per hour. It’s a productive, pulsating city, the cradle of the key trends that emerge from Italy to take the world by storm – it’s where they are born, developed and produced. In Milan there is no end of style, be it in fashion, design or architecture. The stars of the latter have left their mark on the cityscape, decisively contributing to a fascinating interplay between the traditional and the new. Imagine you’re having fun. Your black Diavel is a perfect complement not just to the look of the city, but also to its rhythms, proving itself an outstanding cruiser. From Milan’s cathedral, you head onward, towards La Scala. In the labyrinth of one-way streets that makes up this city’s heart, the Diavel’s 240 rear tyre provides the requisite comfort level even when travelling the city streets is a game of stop and go. With its 162hp, the bike now wants to limber up slowly. After leaving the city’s historic centre behind, along with the shoe-mad women lugging the bags with their purchases, we’re back in the fast lane. Here, the specially made, extra-wide Pirelli tyres respond to every manoeuvre and every slope. Now for a powerful blast of fresh air before our time’s up. Imagine getting whatever you want. The Diavel is the embodiment of a completely new symbiosis of power and style. Its handling leaves nothing to be desired, its technical spec is teeming with the latest Ducati innovations: ABS, Ducati Traction Control and Riding Modes for safety, 162hp combined with a weight of just 207kg (456lb) for sporting dynamism. 62 Pure design: The Ducati Diavel is a sophisticated blend of a sporting motorcycle and a cruiser – and its clear lines against the backdrop of the modern architecture characterising the Maciachini Center in the former industrial district of Carlo Elba. Performance 2 Ducati and Mercedes-AMG share a passion for performance, exclusive styling and engineering as an art form: the offspring of this shared passion is the Ducati Diavel AMG Edition, based on the Diavel Carbon. Exclusive styling and technical refinements down to the very smallest detail. Sports-style elements from AMG add a further note of sophistication to the unmistakable design of the Diavel Carbon. It’s time to raise the curtain on the Diavel AMG Special Edition: streamlined, forged-metal five-spoke wheels, carbon air intakes with chrome grilles, a totally reworked sports-style exhaust, a seat with horizontal ribbing and Alcantara touches, frame, tanks and pillion cover in Diamond White from AMG all aggressively underscore the matt black of the bike’s carbon fibre material. The exclusiveness of this version is further emphasised by the nameplate on the engine bearing the signature of the employee responsible for calibrating the desmodromic system’s fuel injection and ignition by hand. Just like the Ducati and AMG brands themselves, the Ducati Diavel AMG Special Edition blends dynamic performance and athletic power in a unique way, delivering an even more breath-taking ride. This motorcycle’s impressive performance, its clear lines and the symphony sound of its Desmo set standards and inflame desires wherever it turns up. Imagine you’re enjoying yourself. There’s time for an espresso at the Martin Café next to the columns at San Lorenzo. A final detour on your way back to the office leads you to the Maciachini Center, whose ultra-modern architecture is exemplary for 21st century Milan: a metropolis in which old and new are not opposites, but rather necessary conditions. Imagine you’re not dreaming. Imagine you’re sitting at your desk but can reach for freedom whenever you want to. ___ In Milan there is no end of style, whether in fashion, design or architecture © Ducati Left: Leather jacket with padding for shoulders and elbows. Fits back protector. BLW jacket Fibreglass helmet, removable lining and D-ring fastening. BLW full-face helmet Pit stop: There’s a great view of the black devil outside the glass front of the Martin Café. We’ve just time for a quick espresso at the bar before heading off again. The r ider’s busy getting exactly the right dose of caffeine – and will shortly follow it up with another adrenalin rush. 65 Ducati Official Fine Art Prints ducatiart.com Design your life with your passion Diavel CROMO The Ducati Diavel is the epitome of power and mastery in a motorcycle. There’s barely another bike around whose appearance alone makes such an emphatic impression as does this dynamic powerhouse from Bologna. A powerful engine The two-cylinder takes the 1198’s engine as its template. It produces 162 hp and a tremendous torque of 13 Kgm, giving it unrivalled thrust and acceleration. The cult of chrome The gleaming chrome-plated tank contrasts effectively and elegantly with the shining black paintwork, transforming the Diavel into an object of adoration. The horizontal-ridged seat and retrostyle Ducati logo round off the Diavel’s vintage good looks. Type: Testastretta 11°, L-twin cylinder, Desmodromic distribution Displacement: 1198 cc Bore x Stroke: 106 x 67,9 mm Compression Ratio: 11,5 : 1 Power: 162 hp (119 kw) @ 9.500 rpm Torque: 13 Kgm (127,5 Nm) @ 8.000 rpm Fuel injection: Electronic fuel injections system, elliptical throttle bodies Dry weight: 210 kg Apparel Fibreglass helmet with removable lining and D-ring fastening. Diavel X full-face helmet Leather Jacket with protectors: this jacket is made of soft cowhide. Complete with removable protectors, fits back guard and chest protector. Diavel tech leather jacket The Ducati Official Fine Art Prints collection is exclusively available on www.ducatiart.com 66 Put safety first – and stay super Reality check: Dainese has an archive of racing suits once worn by Troy Bayliss. Many of them bear the scars sustained in battles for victory, which make the suits’ leather unique – and provide Dainese with important information for the development of new technologies and materials. stylish! Rev up, clear your head and savour the bend – this kind of enjoyment can only be achieved if you know that you have the ultimate in rider protection. Ducati works with the best names among equipment makers to keep Ducatisti protected. Japanese helmet maker Arai and legendary Italian motorcycle clothing producer Dainese are just two of Ducati’s many reliable partners. Photo Thorsten Doerk Text Klaus-Achim Peitzmeier W hat do Oscar Wilde and Hirotake Arai have in common? The Irish poet claimed, “I have simple tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.” The founder of the internationally famous helmet-making company Arai developed his own philosophy: “We make only one kind of helmet – the best.” Today, management of this family business is in the hands of Michio “Mitch” Arai, a declared aficionado of the motorcycle monsters, and his son Akihito. Arai is more than just a resonant name – it’s a guarantee for top quality. Comfort and safety are top priority here. Before a helmet leaves the factory, it is signed by the employee who made it and undergoes a series of tough tests. This system guarantees that the final product meets the superlative safety and quality standards which make Arai synonymous with reliability. And because Arai wants its helmets to look great too, it has commissioned experienced top designer Aldo Drudi to design the helmets it produces for Ducati. His latest creation took its cues from the design of the new Diavel AMG: the Diavel BLW helmet chimes perfectly with the assertive outlines of the tank. Hi-tech: The Dainese Technology Center is where the engineers’ innovative ideas are turned into reality and tested in lab conditions. Whatever the new development, protection is priority number one. 68 All Arai helmets have one unmistakable feature: the multi-density inner shell, available in up to five different strengths, guarantees maximum all-round protection for every part of the head. Some models also have an inner lining that can be removed, either in part or in full. The washable microfibre material actively assists in regulating the skin’s moisture and temperature levels. Wherever speed is the name of the game, Dainese is always in the thick of things. There’s simply no doubt that the company’s protective clothing for motorcycle riders really is the leather for leaders. It’s not just “The Doctor” who recommends Dainese – the latest Ducati Collection also features scores of stylish jackets, suits with tear-proof pads, as well as gloves and protectors made in Vicenza. The company’s development lab, “Dainese TUMI.COM ©2011 TUMI, INC. Expertise: D-air® project manager Franco Gatto (left) discusses a new design for the Ducati collection with his colleague Piero Primon. Lower picture: The hand-constructed hitech helmets from Arai all look the same now – after a thorough safety check, they will be painted in the current collection’s design. “D-air® is our link connecting the past, the present and the future” 70 Protection when and where it counts is top of the list when it comes to design, no matter what model is involved. Some of the projects are so innovative that it can take up to ten years of development before the product is ready to hit the market. One example of such a long development phase is D-air Racing®, an airbag system for racing suits which launched in 2010 and inflates within 45 milliseconds. These days, racing legends such as Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden never get on their bikes without them. The D-air® technology, tested on the racetrack by Ducati champions, is now also available in an on-the-road version known as D-air® Street. “The device is controlled by a SIM card built into the motorcycle, with a second for the passenger. The D-air® Street system calls for still shorter reaction times, to do justice to conditions on the road, which are very different from those on the racetrack”, explains project manager Franco Gatto. The system means that each rider has their own safety system, avoiding endangering themselves or others. “For us, D-air® is a link between past, present and future.” Cooperation with two leading brands such as Dainese and Arai both strengthen and affirm Ducati’s unwavering determination to deliver its customers the very best in cutting-edge technology for clothing and safety alike – excellence that does not entail compromises in design. ___ Head protection with an autograph thrown in: The Japanese family business Arai lives by the motto “We only build one kind of helmet – the best.” The shell is handsigned by the employee who made the helmet. Fotocredit Arai: Arai Helmet B.V. Netherlands Technology Center” (D-Tec), founded in 1993, is situated not on an industrial estate, but rather in an idyllic location among farms and vineyards. The up-to-the-minute research lab is where Dainese’s engineers work on developing the materials of the future and creating technological innovations. There’s a surprise waiting behind one of D-Tec’s doors: on long clothes rails hangs a whole galaxy of motorsport stars – or at least their suits. Troy Bayliss takes up a good two metres (6ft 6in), and a bit further down the rail, the colour combination flags up straight away that these racing suits once belonged to Valentino Rossi. The air is filled with the smell of leather, with a little sweat mixed in. The oldest suits in this impressive collection are from the time when Lino Dainese founded the company. He designed the stylised devil’s head as its trademark back in 1971; a year later, Dainese was producing its first motocross trousers. They were black at first, as all of them were at the time. Then Lino Dainese was struck by inspiration: he’d put colour into motorcycling gear. Lino Dainese is well-known for his ability to solve problems in a markedly creative manner. One example is the evolution of kneepads, which happened after Dainese had had enough of watching riders stick parts from visors onto their suits for protection. His response to this situation was to develop the “Porcupine”, a kneepad with rubber bristles. He initially refined it by sewing on thick leather pads, before switching to the current solution with its use of Teflon and titanium sliders. NEW YORK PARIS TOKYO SHANGHAI HONG KONG LONDON DUBAI MILAN | EXPLORE TUMI.COM Photo Heiko Simayer It’s about staying true to the philosophy you’ve cherished throughout your life and living out your passion with pride. And it’s about forging a link to a history that’s as up-to-date today as it’s always been. The long-established and the brand-new are reinventing themselves, fusing in a completely original and unique experience of time. It’s not only diehard Ducatisti who’ll love to wear this unmistakable style in the shape of jackets and sweatshirts, polo shirts and T-shirts, caps and other accessories adorned with the tradition-steeped company logo. The leitmotif and distinguishing characteristic of the “Heritage” product line are its logos and lettering, harking back to Ducati’s legendary history. The sophisticated clothing and accessories in this line, produced in the heart of Italy, reflect the style essence of this very legend. Live the legend 72 This leather jacket has a striking retro look, with shoulder and elbow protectors. Available both for him and her. Fits back guard. Meccanica 11 jacket Fullface fibreglass helmet, removable hypoallergenic lining and D-ring fastening. Dark Rider 11 and Twin 12 helmets 73 Him: Cotton T-shirt with print. Graphic Scrambler T-shirt. Her: In breathable, black cowhide with an elegant customised note in the historical Ducati Meccanica logo. Also available in men’s fit. Legend jacket 74 75 1 3 2 4 4 76 1 Cotton T-shirt with print. Graphic Buckle T-shirt 2 Jersey cap with embroidered logo. Meccanica 11 cap Piquet cotton polo shirt with patch and embroidery on back. Meccanica 11 polo shirt 3 Women’s long-sleeved T-shirt in stretch cotton. Meccanica 11 T-shirt 4 Stretch cotton vest with patch and print. Meccanica 11 singlet 77 Cotton T-shirt with print for him. Graphic Eagle T-shirt Cotton and elasthane trousers with fluorescent logo. Also available for women. Shadow trousers Retro-look buckle. Buckle Eagle 11 For her: merino wool and acrylic pullover with vintage patches. Also available for him. Pullover Historical Cotton T-shirt with print. Graphic Pin up T-shirt. 79 A vintage colour scheme for this leather jacket with shoulder and elbow protectors. Fits back guard. Eagle jacket 80 For him and her: the hooded mixed cotton sweatshirt. Hooded sweatshirt Meccanica 11 Polo shirt, also available in black, made of fresh, lightweight polyamide. Polo shirt 80´s 83 1 2 3 84 1 Cotton and polyester sweatshirt with hood. Embroidered logos. Panigale hooded sweatshirt 2 Reversible cap and scarf with embroidery. Meccanica 11 beanie and scarf 3 Him: Full-zip sweatshirt. Meccanica 11 sweatshirt Her: Cotton T-shirt with print. Graphic goggles T-shirt Leather jacket with stitched patches of heritage brands. Also available for women. Historical jacket Cotton T-shirt with applied logos both for her and him. Historical T-shirt 86 87 No time to lose Bright red and featuring perfect precision: the special-edition model from the Fastrider collection by Ducati and Tudor heralds a new era. Text Dr. Ralf Konczak n motor sports, it’s speed alone that counts: the In the same year, 1946, Ducati began producing sole aim and purpose is to be faster than the the four-stroke auxiliary bicycle motor Cuccompetition. Fractions of a second are all-impor- ciolo, developed by Aldo Farinelli and Aldo tant, dividing winners from losers. A chrono- Leoni. Back then, nobody could have guessed graph records the time that has passed with the utmost precision. that this was the birth of one of the most All this means that stopwatches are an integral part of motor sports. fascinating and resonant brands motorcycle We are now proud to present a new and very special stopwatch: the racing has ever seen. Ducati Fastrider chronograph by Tudor, the tradition-steeped Swiss Hans Wilsdorf wanted to provide customers sports watchmaker. with watches that were just as reliable as Rolex Tudor has been Ducati’s timing partner since June 2011. To mark models, but cost less. This was the idea bethe partnership’s launch, the renowned Swiss sporting watch manu- hind the foundation of Tudor, which was able facturer presented a model specially developed for Ducati, part of the to establish itself successfully between 1947 Fastrider collection and – of course – in signature Ducati red. The com- and 1952 with models such as the Tudor Oyster bination of a red watch face with three black stripes and a colour- and the Tudor Oyster Prince. The first advercoordinated fabric wristband makes distinct reference to the design of tising campaigns for the brand emphasised Tudor watches’ robustness and precision, one the legendary motorcycles from Borgo Panigale. For Tudor, partnering with Ducati is a clear signal heralding the company’s redirection towards a sportier image. And who could be more ideal as a Fractions of a second make winners partner in such an endeavour than Ducati, with its firm roots in motorcycle racing? In perfect keeping with this strategy, the Ducati Fastrider is an uncompromisingly sporty watch. The newly developed housing (42 mm in of them waxing lyrical about the Oyster Prince diameter) is a stunning embodiment of Tudor’s technical expertise and model, which had remained impressively inexperience, promising absolute durability, reliability and precision. tact throughout a motorcycle race covering a The watch is water resistant to a depth of 150 metres, ensuring its au- hefty 1000 miles. Tudor’s signature features tomatic movement, with a Tudor Calibro 7753, remains perfectly pro- included water-resistant housing and mechantected at all times. The engraved tachymeter scale on the bezel allows ical movements with self-winding mechathe user to measure speed. A knob positioned at 9 o’clock, with a coat- nisms. In the mid-1960s, the company made of-arms-shaped, PVD-coated steel surround, provides for quick date the Tudor Prince Submariner for the US Navy, and 1970 saw the market debut of the still more setting. The two partnering companies’ stories show startling parallels. In renowned Tudor Oysterdate chronograph. 1926, Antonio Cavalieri Ducati founded the Società Scientifica Radio Since then, the watches with the characterBrevetti Ducati (S.p.A.) in order to make use of the patents registered istic coat of arms on the face have gone from to his son Adriano for the production of condensers. This was the same an insiders’ tip with a cult following into a mustyear that saw the registration of the brand The Tudor on behalf of Hans have. Precise and robust, with a sporty spirit Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex. In 1936, Wilsdorf took on the company and a trendy retro look, Tudor watches have himself, going on to found the company Montres Tudor SA in Geneva become their own style icons, of which the Ducati Fastrider is an outstanding example. ___ on 6 March 1946. 88 Photo: Tudor Germany I It’s your choice They’re popular favourites, world champions, good mates and racetrack rivals: Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden. But how like each other are the two MotoGP stars on the Ducati team, and in what ways are they different? Ten tough questions to learn more about these motorcycling heroes. © Ducati Dream team: Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi. Both winning persona-lities adore receiving the adulation of the crowds – almost as much as they love fast bikes. While Rossi, from Italy, effortlessly lives up to his rock star reputation, US-born Hayden embodies an ideal for all team bosses, quite a lot of girls and one or two mothers-in-law. 91 Profile Valentino Rossi Profile Nicky Hayden Date of birth: 16 February 1979 Date of birth: 30 July 1981 Place of birth: Urbino (Italy) Place of birth: Owensboro Height: 182 cm Weight: 67 kg Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP11 Starting number: 46 Nickname: “The Doctor” First GP: Malaysia, 1996 First GP win: Czech Republic, 1996 First pole position: Czech Republic, 1996 World Championship titles: 9 (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 6 x MotoGP) 92 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rap or rock? Sweet or savoury? Blond or brown? High heels or flipflops? Coffee or tea? Pizza or pasta? Shower or bath? Seaside or mountains? Still or sparkling? Moon or sun? rock savoury brown flipflops for me… and high heels for women coffee that’s a tough one… ummm… pasta! shower seaside AND mountains sparkling moon 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rap or rock? Sweet or savoury? Blond or brown? High heels or flipflops? Coffee or tea? Pizza or pasta? Shower or bath? Seaside or mountains? Still or sparkling? Moon or sun? rap sweet one of each! flipflops during the day for women, and high heels at night coffee pasta shower seaside sparkling sun (Kentucky, USA) Height: 173 cm Weight: 68 kg Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP11 Starting number: 69 Nickname: “Kentucky Kid” First GP: Japan, 2003 First GP win: USA, 2005 First pole position: USA, 2005 World Championship titles: 1 (MotoGP) 93 4in 1 94 Text Adam Baumgaertner What does endless transformation mean? Paolo Pirozzi, chairman of the Naples-based “Ducati Dreams Club”, wanted to find out: during his trip around the world, he grew to know and love the Multistrada 1200 as a faithful friend for sports, touring, dashing around in the city, and as an off-roader perfect for a spot of adventure. 95 World traveller: Countless excursions across the USA’s west, hairpin bends, hilly terrain and rough surfaces make no odds to the Ducati Multistrada, the two-wheel ticket to an all-inclusive trip around the world. H ow about taking the Ducati Multistrada all the way around the world? Endless-seeming journeys in the American West, powering straight ahead for hours on end? Days of torturing yourself on hair-raising paths only pack animals usually venture on; feet upon feet of desert sand; sweltering heat and icy cold; dirt roads? And then the buzz of Asian megacities, or saying “buenos dias” to Mexico City, “hello” to London, “hi” to Los Angeles, “goodbye” to New York and “bonjour” to Paris? And because all that isn’t enough, what about glorying in the winding roads of the Alps, surfing Highway No. 1 and taking in diversions to racing routes? – Impossible? No, and here’s proof: in the course of a year, Paolo Pirozzi, president of the Ducati club in Naples, took a Multistrada 1200 and went 90,000 kilometres (55,923 miles) around the globe. The Multistrada’s nonchalant brilliance in coping with such a test of endurance is simply more proof of its multi-purpose conception’s durability: it’s the best of all motorcycling worlds brought together in a combination of sheer genius that has produced complementary strengths rather than half-hearted compromises. 96 Its directional stability, typical of all Ducatis and emerging straight from high-speed racing courses across the globe, is not just perfect – for instance – for the home strait in Monza, but also for mile upon mile in the lonely heart of Siberia. The Multistrada keeps on going straight ahead, perfectly relaxed, until its rider is simply grateful for the wind protection offered by the small windscreen and the comfortable seat. While in racing, aerodynamics and cleverly designed ergonomics are the all-important decisive factors, in long-distance motorcycling, comfort and ergonomics can make the difference between getting there and giving up somewhere along the way. Heading east, huge trucks weighing tons thunder at breakneck speed along the endless roads. It’s a good job that the 150hp, liquid- cooled twin-cylinder Multistrada not only finds unexpected resources of power time and again to speed up past these merciless, grinding shifting dunes, but also uncomplainingly consumes what passes for fuel out in the endless expanses of this earth – sometimes pumped out of barrels. The Multistrada goes stoically on for mile after mile, impressively, perfectly and reliably releasing its power and transforming it into speed. The biggest challenges the Multistrada faces are the continuously deteriorating roads: bumpy passes give way to a narrow strip of asphalt, pitted with potholes. But in the end, even this turns out well. For days on end, the Ducati overcomes sandy country lanes and dirt roads. Its minimal dry weight, standing at under 192 kg (422.5 lb), is the reason it can attack such extremes in the first place. It’s The Multistrada 1200 treks on undaunted through the expanses of the East a real bone-crusher of an endevour: constant vibrations shake the frame throughout, all the way to the mounting brackets for the saddlebags; the ride has to cope with clouds of dust and the terrible load peaks that slam from the road straight into the engine’s interior. Ducati is synonymous with explosive power: that’s a integral part of the legend of L-twin engines with their enormous strength. But without absolute reliability, even under the cruellest of pressure, a Ducati would never have become world champion. It’s precisely this intense robust- 97 Around the world on two wheels © Ducati W 98 © Ducati ness, which is embedded deep within Ducati’s genes, that makes a Multistrada able to handle the most appalling roads and the most difficult conditions of any journey. Whether it’s the finishing line or the perhaps literally life-saving oasis in the Gobi desert, Ducatis were built to get there. Nothing else will do. After the kamikaze endeavour of road traffic in India, the swelteringly humid climate of Malaysia and a trip straight through the Australian Outback, the Multistrada finally arrives in New York City. What a contrast! And even here, in the urban jungle, the Ducati shows itself to be a real warrior: the high seat position gives the rider an all-round view of the situation at all times, while the bike’s slim silhouette and spurting power are perfect for triumphing in the fight for pole position at traffic lights. And of course, the Ducati zips through side streets at whirlwind speed – with one or two short cuts across the pavement as part of the equation. A range of riding modes can be used to adapt the engine’s electronics and the traction control to the current conditions. Now the Multistrada is working in “Urban” mode, with its performance down to 100hp – and the engine responding with great sensitivity in terms of fuel consumption, as in “Enduro” mode, which additionally adjusts the traction control to off-road riding. And the final stage of this epic journey? – Where else but in the Alps? The dozens of mountain serpentines, seemingly draw across the mountains at random, are the ideal terrain for a Ducati Multistrada. Powerful acceleration, hard braking and the quite simply amazing Transformations, beyond every limit. The Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak Special Edition is the outcome of our successful participation in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Race, and it represents perfectly Multistrada racing philosophy. orld Ducati Week 2010 – The Ducati event on the Misano racetrack was the starting signal for the mega-impressive round-theworld trip made by the man whose heart beats to the rhythm of the Desmodromic. Paolo Pirozzi, chairman of the Ducati Dreams Club in Naples, headed for the Mediterranean in the seat of a Ducati Multistrada, with Ducati clubs all over the world eagerly awaiting his arrival. Almost one year and nearly 90,000km (55,923 miles) later, the multipurpose bike Ducati Multistrada 1200 had carried the Italian Ducati aficionado across several dozen country borders; the Ducati hero received many warm welcomes amid frenetic celebrations across the globe. The intrepid adventurer, who was able to rely on his Multistrada across deserts, torn-up streets and rough terrain, would later cite the enthusiasm and support of international Ducatisti as what had given him the most powerful and moving impressions during his epic trip. He added that as the journey wore on, he had come to particularly appreciate the Multistrada’s comprehensive safety package and four riding modes. handling, which makes it possible to steer almost any course, get this multi-purpose Ducati safely and above all hugely enjoyably across the mountain range from north to south. In “Sport” mode, the engine revs up aggressively, slugs fuel, traction control sets in late. And the spring elements, which have taken the most staggering of blows for almost 100,000km (62,137 miles), have a final opportunity to shine with their refined precision and outstanding feedback – just as a racing motorcycle should be. So, for globetrotters and restless wanderers all around the world, there’s no better compromise than the Multistrada. No, hang on – there is: the Multistrada S with its additionally electronically tunable suspension might lend an extra bit of spice to the joy of riding a Ducati across the globe. But we’ll leave that to the next intrepid adventurer to prove. ___ Multistrada 1200 S Touring What had previously been considered an impossible combination has now become reality: four bikes in one. An engine with outstanding output The Testastretta 11° engine has sporting strength in its DNA. It’s ideal for long distances, and it is a pleasure to ride in every situation. Powerful and safe Along with its incredible output, the Multistrada is applauded for its intelligent electronics and topquality materials. Powerful and determined, it continues on its way. Type: Testastretta 11°, L-twin cylinder, Desmodromic distribution Displacement: 1198 cc Bore x Stroke: 106 x 67,9 mm Compression Ratio: 11,5 : 1 Power: 150 hp (110 kw) @ 9.250 rpm Torque: 12,1 Kgm (119 Nm) @ 7.500 rpm Fuel injection: Electronic fuel injections system, elliptical throttle bodies Dry weight: 192 kg Apparel © Ducati Fibreglass helmet with removable hypoallergenic inner lining and D-ring clasp. Full face helmet Strada Tour Waterproof and breathable bike jacket with Gore-Tex® membrane. Strada Tour GT jacket 101 Born to be first A winning tradition: the story of Ducati is a tale of legendary motorcycles and the men who have chosen them for their races. They were riders of the storm – pioneers who took the name of Ducati around the world. Text Emmy Muehlhaus I f there was a zero hour in Ducati company history, it struck on 15 February 1947. On this day, the Cucciolo rider Mario Recchia achieved his first great victory, causing the name of the Borgo Panigale-based company to hit the headlines at the speed of light. In the turbulent post-war years, when the world was settling down into a new order, daily life was characterised by shortages of everything, even before the drought that descended on Italy in the summer of 1947. And another hunger raged too, one no amount of bread could ever have “Win on satisfied: people longed for normality, for distraction from the daily struggles of their lives, for a different perspective. Recchia, one of the first pioneers, demonstrated with his successes that even in the most arduous of conditions, people can still be the best they can and get the best out of the material they use – with an unflinching will, ambition, initiative and knowledge of what they’re doing. Recchia was the originator of the winner’s mentality that has been in the blood of all Ducati riders down the years to today. It wasn’t long until Ducatisti were internationally renowned. In the Emilia Romagna region, the local population rewarded their heroes with a mushrooming interest in motorcycling. Every town held races on closed-off streets; the biggest crowd-pullers were the long-distance “Gran Fondo” races and the “Milano-Taranto”, a 24-hour race over a winding course covering the entire length of the Italian peninsula. These were exhausting trials of strength which left the last to cross the line unnoticed, but made immortal heroes of the first. A victory in such a race was the best advertising a motorcycle manufacturer could wish for. In perfect accordance with the American motto “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday”, sporting successes were synonymous with exploding sales figures. And so the first Golden Age dawned on Ducati: the “Marianna phase” (1955–1957), named after the motorcycle developed by 104 Fabio Taglioni, by the end of which production in Borgo Panigale had experienced an undreamed-of boom. Along with Taglioni’s innovation, the Desmodromic valve control system characterised by reliability and durability alike, Ducati owed its great popularity above all – of course – to its riders: record-breakers such as Mario Carini or Santo Ciceri, winners like Sunday, sell on Monday” Gianni Degli Antoni or Giuliano Maoggi, the fighter Francesco Villa and, last but definitely not least, Franco Farné, whose story is a piece of Ducati’s history. It was one of his victories that won Ducati a place in the world championship in 1958. This was the year that saw the end of the “Gran Fondo” races, which were banned after a large number of serious accidents. Triumphs such as that achieved at the Monza Grand Prix, which saw Ducati take the first five places in 1958, once more opened the gate to the top flight of motorcycle manufacturers – but just for a short time: not even the great enthusiasm of the Ducatisti was able to There can only be one winner: Giuliano Maoggi, wearing the number 266, bristling with determination at the 1956 Motogiro. His Marianna 125cc carried him across the finishing line in triumph. The dazzling victory pulled off by the rider, known as the “Italian Duke” for his racing style, is almost certainly what saved Ducati from having to close down. Kings of the bends: Bruno Spaggiari on the 500 GP, ahead of Giacomo Agostini, on the Pesaro course in 1971. The small image on the left shows Fabio Taglioni, the engineer who helped Ducati get ahead and put victory within the grasp of riders such as Franco Farné, shown here in 1958 in Busto Arsizio (right). Twin-cylinder, bevel drive, Desmodromic technology – the 500 GP was the mother of all Ducati sporting motorcycles 106 55 A winning personality: Propelled by willpower, ambition, initiative and skill to match, Giovanni Degli Antoni crosses the finishing line victorious at the third Motogiro in 1955. Neck and neck: In 1972, Paul Smart triumphed in the 200 Miles of Imola with the help of his unmistakable riding style – ahead of the second Ducati rider, Bruno Spaggiari, who was likewise on the move with a 750 SS “Imola Desmo”. 72 Fotocredit: Ducati Archive 78 Multiple World champion: In 1978, Mike Hailwood, who had actually retired from racing won the Isle of Man TT race astride a production derived 900 SS. prevent the company’s management announcing, as it did in 1959, its official withdrawal from international competitive racing. The company’s nationalisation ushered in what was known as a period of rationality, which was to last for a decade. Once again, the importance of the initiative shown by riders such as Massimo Variati, Sergio Baroncini or Bruno Spaggiari to the Ducati brand became apparent. Although Ducati made little official use of them, they took their passion for Desmo to all corners of the globe. The wake-up call came at the beginning of the 1970s: twin cylinders, a bevel drive, Desmodromics – in 1971, the impassioned technician Fabio Taglioni outdid himself once again with the development of the new 500 GP and, almost at the same time, the 750 GT as the street version, the mother of all sport Ducati. The extremely short period of only four months between the first sketch of his L-twin engine (with cylinders set at 90°) and the finished prototype was due among other things to the love of racing among the company’s top management at 108 the time, who gave Taglioni their full backing. In October 1970, the decision to re-enter competitive racing had been made. The plan provided for the construction of half-litre GP motorcycles for the 1971 Italian championships, which would also serve as advertising for the street version of the 750. Nevertheless, Gilberto Parlotti was the only rider who won a race on the 500 GP. A year later, the famous “200-mile race”, which usually commenced in the US, took place in Imola, Italy, for the first time. Taglioni marked the occasion by constructing an altered version of the 750 GT: the 750 SS “Imola Desmo”. This new motorcycle had a potential which Ducati riders Bruno Spaggiari and Paul Smart were only too keen to exploit. The race Mike Hailwood’s sensational victory on the Isle of Man astounded the world in Imola on 23 April 1972, which has entered into the annals of legend, saw the two go head to head in a highly emotional race which Smart won by a whisker. For Ducati, the double victory at Imola kicked off an era in which the Borgo Panigale factory began to regain its former stature. Its engineers reached the next level in 1975, bringing the 750 SS together with the 860 engine in a perfect symbiosis. The 900 SS carried on where its predecessors had left off in 1974, finding its defining driver in 1978 at the World Championhsip on the Isle of Man in the extraordinary Mike Hailwood™. Although he had retired from active racing, Hailwood™ allowed himself to be persuaded to take part in the race with a pro- duction derived twin-cylinder 900 SS, in other words, with a motorcycle that hadn’t been developed specially for the racing, but rather adapted for this purpose. This motorcycle faced a formidable opponent in Phil Read and his specially produced 4-cylinder Honda. Hailwood™’s sensational victory astonished the world. As the first Ducati rider to bring the Isle of Man title to Bologna, he became the key player in one of motor sport’s outstanding moments. Now, Ducati was motorcycling’s non plus ultra. ___ 109 Photo Heiko Simayer The “Company” line stands for sporty fashion, trimmed down to the essentials and creating a synthesis of functionality, comfort and trendsetting technologies. With its clear lines in black and white, and restrained use of red providing elegant emphasis, the collection unites the safety of technical clothing with height-of-fashion design. True to the maxim “less is more”, red thus becomes an unmistakable symbol of elegance and quality. The unfussy, purist look that dominates in the “Company” collection underlines the pleasure of having, or being, something special, the pleasure of Ducati: sophisticated technology, unique designs, comfort and style for people who know what they want. Company cult 110 Him and her: Waterproof fabric jacket with protectors and aluminium inserts. Diavel tech jacket Stylish dark buckle in carbon fiber. Carbon fibre buckle Fibreglass helmet with removable lining and D-ring fastening. Diavel-X full face helmet 111 Made of perforated Cordura mesh fabric with leather inserts. Complete with CE approved composite protection on the shoulders and elbows. Motard Summer jacket This hypoallergenic metal frame was created using 3D design. It has scratch and impact resistant Plutonite® lenses for UV protection. The three-point fit means that the lenses maintain their precise optical allignment all day long. Oakley X-Metal® frame 4 Leather motorcycle jacket, fits back guard and chest guard. Desmo jacket Well ventilated short fabric-leather gloves Flow gloves 112 Him: cotton and polyester full-zip sweatshirt. Company 11 sweatshirt Her: cotton polo shirt with raised stripes. Ducatiana polo shirt Fabric belt with enamel buckle. Company belt Cotton cap. Also available in black. Company cap The jet-set helmet is practical and lightweight with a simple yet eye-catching open face design. It is in carbon glass and it has a spherical scratchproof visor with sun visor included. Jet-set open-face helmet Ultra-light sunglasses thanks to the metal frame with antiUV Plutonite® lenses. Plantiff® sunglasses Fabric key ring in carbon fibre. Ducati Corse 12 key ring Ball pen in carbon fibre. Company ball pen 113 Him and her: hi-tech cowhide leather jacket with composite protectors. Fits the G2 back guard. Twin jacket Fullface fibreglass helmet, removable anallergic lining and D-ring fastening. Full-face helmet Dark Rider 11 Well ventilated short fabric gloves. Twin gloves 114 115 2 3 1 1 Him and her: Jacket with protectors and Gore-Tex® membrane. Strada Tech GT jacket Touring trousers with thermal line, membrane and protectors. Strada GT trousers Fibreglass helmet with thermoformed visor and D-ring fastening. Dart full-face helmet 2 Waterproof motorcycle jacket in breathable material and Gore-Tex® membrane. Strada Tour GT jacket 3 Cotton T-shirt with print. Graphic Fighter T-shirt (red), Graphic Diavel T-shirt (white) Her: The Company polo is the perfect top for all occasions. Company 12 polo shirt Full-face fibreglass helmet, removable hypoallergenic lining and D-ring fastening. Strada Tour full-face helmet 116 3 2 1 1 Leather jacket with soft cowhide with removable protectors. This garment also fits back guard and chest protector. Diavel Tech leather jacket Cotton T-shirt with print. Graphic Diavel T-shirt 2 Cotton T-shirt with print. Graphic butterfly T-shirt 3 Him and her: Realized with structured Polyester fully perforated fabric, it includes integrated composite protection on the shoulders and elbows and it fits G2 back protector. Total safety and style. Flow 12 jacket Fibreglass helmet with thermoformed visor and D-ring fastening. Dart full-face helmet 118 119 1 2 125 GranSport 3 120 1 Leather jacket with padding, laser-cut logo and quilting. Black jacket 2 This simply cotton T-shirt is available in differents colours red, black and white. Ducatiana T-shirt 3 Distinguished by an aged effect print and exposed stitching for a colour contrast, the T-shirt is available in different colours. 100% cotton. Billboard T-shirt La Fondazione Ducati scrive la storia con la sua passione. Per firmare nuove emozioni, per sottolineare la tradizione, per evidenziare i valori. La tradizione motociclistica di Ducati e la sua propensione alla vittoria accettano una sfida inedita all’insegna dell’alta qualità italiana, con una grande attenzione al design e una cura ineccepibile dei particolari. E’ cosi che la collezione Officina creata da Giuliano Mazzuoli si colora di rosso per aggiungere nuove pagine di emozioni ad una storia tutta da raccontare e tramandare. www.mazzuoli.it For information in the USA, please contact: JHD at (617) 482-9053 or email [email protected] Fondazione Ducati Official Licensed Product La passione scrive la storia The icon From self-made racer to World Champion: how Ducati turned Australian Superbike rider Troy Bayliss into a modern legend. Text Nicole Hille-Priebe roy Bayliss is a once-in-a-generation genius in the world of motorcycling, a man who has become a legend in his own lifetime and who has been treated like a rock star. His story is one of nerve, determination, passion and sometimes a healthy share of good luck. It’s the story of a man who didn’t just want to dream – he wanted to live as well. And it’s the story of Ducati, whose creations give riders of Troy’s stature the chance to win a place in history. These people are machine whisperers. They understand their motorcycles as if they were living, breathing beings. They are experts who know how to call on the reserves hidden within themselves and their motorcycles. They are the heroes of the racetrack, always ahead of the rest. With high-octane fuel coursing through their veins, they are the record-breaking racers who do Ducati proud. Born in Australia in 1969, Troy was inducted into the Valhalla of riders in 2006, the year when he not only won the World Superbike title for Ducati for the second time but also stood on the top of the winners’ stand after the last race of the MotoGP season in Valencia. With his teammate Loris Capirossi, who took silver, this was the day that Troy gave Ducati the first double victory in this class. The fact that Troy was also in the line-up for MotoGP was typical for his career, a career that reached its high point in the 2006 season. That year, he had a string of twelve sensational wins on his 999 F06 in the Superbike World Championship. Also taking second place three times and third once, he was the undisputed World Champion at the end of the season. In 2006, things had looked a bit bleak for the Bologna-based factory team in the MotoGP championship. A replacement driver was urgently needed to take over for the injured Sete Gibernau. Ducati contacted Troy and got him to swop the beach for the MotoGP box – and the rest is history, as they say. Troy had previously shown how to make the most of a good opportunity. As a wildcard rider, he had stunned the racing world by twice coming in fifth place in the 1997 Superbike World Championship in Phillip Island, a feat which attracted Ducati’s attention. In 1999, his first year as an official Ducati rider, he won the British Superbike title. He was scheduled to follow up this achievement by taking part in the US Superbike championship in 2000, but after Carl Fogarty had a serious accident during the fourth race of the championship season, Troy got his place on the factory team. Troy was finally allowed to take part in the fifth racing weekend at Monza, where he wrote his own piece of motorsport history by passing the four riders in front of him in a single, astounding manoeuvre to take the lead. Even today, he is still unable to explain how he managed this. “I don’t know what I was thinking at the time, but that’s when everything started.” At the next race on the Hockenheimring in Germany, the 31-year-old won his first race on his Ducati 996. The motorcycle whisperer: Three-times Superbike world champion Troy Bayliss has left his mark on motorcycle racing with his unmistakable style. 122 Photo: Sven Cichowicz T him. “But it definitely did me good. It was a great help for keeping my clear winner of both rounds and set a new lap feet on the ground. When you can have your wife and children with you, record both times. All in all, he won 52 races in it means that the most important people in your life are with you from this class, had a place on the winners’ stand 94 the very start. It was asking a lot of them, but it was all worth it.” All the times, started in pole position 26 times and rode same, Troy had to promise Kim that he would one day give up racing. the fastest lap 35 times. Measured by his startsThat day finally came in 2007. When Troy announced that he would be to-wins ratio, no other rider in history, with the exception of Ben Spies, has ever been as sucretiring at the end of the 2008 season, it’s likely that some Ducati fans felt cessful as Troy Bayliss. like the world had ended. But Troy had one more thing to do before he It’s every racer’s dream to retire at the peak stepped down – he wanted to win his third Superbike World Championof their success. However, Troy discovered that ship title. In 2008, his last season for the Ducati factory team, he rode a hanging up his racing helmet is easier said brand new 1098 F08, the first motorcycle in the entire history of the Suthan done: “Every day, I think about taking part perbike World Championship to be equipped with a 1200cc V2 engine. And the Australian “Godfather of Speed” wasn’t about to let his fans The last victorious race in Portugal down. During the very first race in Qatar, he moved into first place on in another race. I miss the triumph of winning. the overall ranking, and not once during the entire season did he relinThis passion will always remain part of me, quish this position. His last race in Portugal was the scene of his triumjust like Ducati.” ___ phant World Championship finale – starting in pole position, he was the Photo: Karl Neilson “I still think about racing again every single day. I miss the feeling of triumph that comes with winning” Another victory came at Brands Hatch in the UK, and by end of the season, he was in the top three in nine different races and came in sixth place overall though he had only been able to take part in 18 out of 26 races. In just ten years, the self-made rider from Australia had worked his way up the rankings to become an international Superbike star. Troy’s career is even more remarkable when you look at how late he came to racing. As a young boy at school, he took part in motorcycle rallies, but he lost interest again later. He bought his first motorcycle with money he earned from his job as a spraypainter, and he took it with him when he took part in the Australian Grand Prix, where he wanted to party with friends. “At night, I competed against crazies in dragster races, I acted like a complete fool. That’s when I made the decision to become a racer.” As a no-name without any sponsor, this was a very ambitious plan, but there was no way back for him now. His urge to take part in races was stronger than what other people would call plain good sense. His first years on the 124 track, when he worked at spraypainting when he wasn’t being a racer, left a deep imprint. “Me and my wife Kim were always at the racetrack, but my motorcycle didn’t even work most of the time – we were totally clueless. Then, when Monday came round, I was back at work. Today we often talk about how we got through that period. You just can imagine what it was like.” Part of the secret of Troy’s success is the fact that he has a rock-solid home life. In 1993, he married the girl he fell in love with as a teenager, and he and Kim had three children together. Juggling a professional career and life as a normal dad was another challenge for Photo: Racepixs Typical of Troy: Bayliss throws his helmet into the crowd for sheer joy after the race in Assen in 2008. The Australianborn champion triumphed in both races, effortlessly extending the gap between himself and his World Championship competitors. Mister Superbike: Bayliss won a total of 52 races in this class, was on the winners’ podium 94 times, started in pole position 26 times and clocked the fastest lap 35 times. 125 1 2 Photo Thorsten Doerk 1 100% cotton T-shirt with print. T-shirt Meccanica 2 Printed cotton body (set of two bodies). Ducati Corse 12 body set Fabulous fashion for little Ducatisti Children need to play, run and jump, they need to enjoy sports and games and have fun – and they need the right clothes for their busy, happy lives. The Ducati range of children’s fashion is durable, gives your child freedom of movement and makes no compromises on style! Perfect for helping the next generation of Ducatisti enjoy every moment. 127 2 Whether they’re wearing them to nursery, school or at the playground, little people want clothes that are not just practical, but also trendy and fun. The materials this range is made of are durable and kind to kids’ skin, and feature the Ducati Corse colours so there‘s no room for doubt about which side the junior champions are on. Ducati’s children’s fashion range is perfect for our youngest fans, for all the activities they enjoy – and always true to the motto “Born to ride”! 3 4 1 100% cotton T-shirt with print. T-shirt Cubes 2 100% cotton T-shirt with patches and prints. Ducati Corse 12 T-shirt Baby ankle socks with embroidered logo. Company baby socks 3 Long-sleeved cotton T-shirt with patches and prints. Ducati Corse 12 T-shirt 4 100% cotton T-shirt with print. T-shirt Desmo kid 1 128 1 100% cotton T-shirt with print. T-shirt Ducati Corse 12 2 Chenille sleepsuit with prints on anallergic and breatheable materials. Ducati Corse sleepsuit Set of two bibs with prints. Ducati Corse 12 napkin set 3 T-shirt 100% cotton with print. Buckle kid T-shirt 4 Printed cotton body set (two bodies). Ducati Corse 12 body set 2 1 3 4 IMPRINT Commissioned by: Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., Via Cavalieri Ducati, 3, 40132 Bologna, Italy ::: Supervision and Project Management: Marketing Department and Creative Center of Ducati Motor Holding ::: Concept and Editing: Delius Klasing, Corporate Publishing, Siekerwall 21, 33602 Bielefeld, Germany ::: Head of Corporate Publishing: Edwin Baaske ::: Chief Editor: Nicole Hille-Priebe ::: Head of Photography: Markus Bolsinger ::: Art Direction: Joerg Weusthoff ::: Project Coordination: Dr. Katrin Miele, Marco Brinkmann ::: Editors: Adam Baumgaertner, Jan Bruelle, Francesca Corello, Manuel Dohr, Ingo Gach, Tina Gallach, Dr. Ralf Konzcak, Thilo Kozik, Emmy Muehlhaus, Achim Peitzmeier, Martin Santoro, Johannes Schnettler ::: Photography: Sven Cichowicz, Thorsten Doerk, Heiko Simayer, Arai Helmets B.V, Netherlands, Ducati Archive, Die Bildbeschaffer ::: Layout: Weusthoff Noël, Hamburg, Susann Pechstein, Dominic Tackenberg ::: Production Management: Olaf Klinger ::: Lithography: formatfuenf I k2 Konzept, Hamburg ::: Translation: Lennon.de Language Services, Muenster ::: Printing: Kunst- und Werbedruck, Bad Oeynhausen 130 Taste the Italian Passion An exclusive example of Italian excellence, Ducati Caffè is the concept restaurant and lounge bar where passion and style reign supreme. Here, outstanding food and wine, coffee, merchandise and apparel all come together to provide a unique, exclusive, exciting atmosphere. A stunningly modern venue, Ducati Caffè also offers its own-brand wine and confectionary together with a multi-sensorial experience that is unforgettable. ducaticaffe.com