Ducati back in WSBK with official factory team
The 2013 1199 Panigale R
Ducati has announced that it will be back to the World Superbike Championship in 2014 with a fully factory supported racing team. The Italian factory had earlier pulled the plug on full factory support in 2011 and stayed away for three racing seasons.
Noriyuki Haga in action on the Xerox Ducati with Feel Racing in 2010
They will now return with the Feel Racing team, a team that ran their official factory team before their withdrawal of proper factory support in 2011. David Giugliano and Chaz Davies will ride for the 'Ducati Superbike Team' as it will now be called. For the past three years Feel Racing was partnered with the BMW Motorrad team till BMW announced earlier this year that they wouldn't be returning to WSBK for 2014.
The 1199 Panigale S. Will it be in the running for victory next year?
The new team will now report to Ducati Corse general manager Luigi Dall'Igna amd Paolo Cibatti, the Ducati Corse sporting director. Serafino Foti will be the team manager while Ernesto Marinelli has been confirmed as the Superbike project director. The Team will be desperate to recover from one of their worst seasons ever in 2013 Ducati finished sixth (effectively last, as last placed Yamaha only earned points from two cameo appearances). Ducati motorcycles have always dominated the World Superbike championship since its inception in 1988 but have struggled with the new 1199 Panigale and no proper factory support.
Starts Rs 1,02,700
149cc
5-Speed
12.40
13.60
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