Ducati MotoGP Team 2006

Photographs and text courtesy of Ducati Motor S.p.A.

Ducati Announces 2006 MotoGP Race Team

New Ducati Desmosedici GP06 Launched

Ducati has released the new lighter and stiffer version of their MotoGP race bike, the Desmosedici GP06.  This is the latest version of the bike that has shown flashes of brilliance since it was first developed.

Ducati made the announcement at the finish line of the legendary "3-Tre" course at Campiglio, where the Ducati MotoGP Team pulled the wraps off the GP06 and introduced its riders for this season, Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau.

Federico Minoli, President and CEO of Ducati Motor, and Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Corse and the team riders had this to say: 

Federico Minoli:  "We race to win and in our fourth year of participation in MotoGP we expect to win more than we did in 2005. 

We are sure that the team is stronger this year and we are ready for this fourth season with all the right cards to get some good results and to capitalize on our investment, also in view of the development of new technology aimed at our production sector.

Racing is in Ducati`s DNA, we feel that we are responsible for taking and communicating Italian technology all over the world, and we are proud to be able to do so.

Right from the start of the project we have had a positive collaboration with Philip Morris and I am extremely pleased to announce that Ducati Corse has extended the sponsorship agreement with Philip Morris International until 2011.  It is a unique partnership, one that since 2003 has linked together two of the most prestigious names in the world with the positive results that are visible for everyone to see. Together we can look forward to the future and the victories to come."

Claudio Domenicali:  ""Racing in MotoGP allows us to operate with machines that are pure prototypes, developing technology that will subsequently be transferred to our production bikes.  Ducati has always borrowed concepts and innovations from the racing world, and we transfer the possible benefits to our entire production range.

The Desmosedici GP06 represents an evolution of the GP05; apparently it doesn’t present any marked differences with its predecessor, but it is in fact an important step forward.  The bike is lighter but we have done a lot of work on its stiffness (with the frame, rims and front forks), especially at the rear of the bike.  The composite structure that we call the seat support has been totally redesigned and stiffness has been increased by more than 80%.

The bike’s ergonomics have undergone a notable evolution with the fuel tank modified in line with requests from the riders.  We have also focused on the bike’s "driveability", and in this area we have made available a whole new range of instruments and technologies that will allow the race engineers to package the power behavior and delivery of the engine according to the requests of the riders and the conditions of the track.

We have also worked on engine power, modifying the internal fluid dynamics and as a result we have a different thermodynamic layout.  We have attempted to increase power as well as reduce fuel consumption, an area to which we have dedicated a lot of attention, by working maniacally on engine friction.  One point of which we are particularly proud is the reliability of the bike; in 2005 we took part in 17 races with two riders, without ever having a problem, and we have also maintained this line for the next season.

The evolution of the bike has obviously involved our partner, Bridgestone.  Even though we know that we still have some work to do on certain kinds of track, we also know that we are on the right road and the results of the last few races of last season confirmed this improvement; our aim now is to be competitive at every circuit.

The 2006 team is a very strong one on the rider front.  Loris is a confirmation for us and as soon as the bike-tyre package allows, he makes no mistakes and brings home great results.  A warm welcome for Sete Gibernau, whose joining us is a clear demonstration of the importance that is given in our team to the role of the riders: Sete is a great rider and he and Loris together make up a great team."

Loris Capirossi:  ""I have seen the birth of this project and I consider it to be an honor be in the team and riding the Desmosedici.  It is a fantastic, stimulating project that has given us some great satisfaction and , I feel sure, will give us some more this season.  For 2006 we have an extremely efficient package with great potential, thanks to the development and evolution that the bike has had and to the collaboration with similarly motivated and capable partners, like Bridgestone."

Sete Gibernau:  "Being in a team which is 100% behind me, with the ambitions, the means and the enthusiasm to produce good results, is like realizing a dream.  Every day that goes by I feel better in the team and I am sure that it will be an entertaining season, full of satisfaction and that I will be capable of repaying the trust that has been put in me.  It’s going to be a difficult year, because every year MotoGP becomes more and more difficult and competitive, but I’m not afraid of the job ahead."

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