More than 30,000 fans packed into the famous Piazza Maggiore square in the centre of Bologna yesterday (Sunday) for a spectacular event organised by the city and provincial authorities, together with the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, to celebrate Ducati’s fantastic World MotoGP title victory. The event was the climax of a series of initiatives involving the company and the city, which began on Saturday morning. Ducati fans and enthusiasts came from all over Italy and abroad to visit the factory and the museum, which were open to the public all weekend, while groups of motorcyclists peacefully invaded the city centre.
On Sunday afternoon everyone congregated in the city centre square for hours of entertainment provided by the event’s official radio broadcaster Radio 105, and by top Italian DJ Ringo and TV presenter Gerry Scotti.
Ducati Motor Holding CEO, Gabriele Del Torchio, got the proceedings underway: “This is a truly fantastic day. A square full of people like this needs no comment, and I don’t think there has ever been a greater demonstration of affection and warmth for Ducati than this. Our clubs and thousands of Ducatisti have travelled from all over the world to be here and to celebrate this incredible world title with us. It is a really great day for Ducati and it helps us feel the love of all of our fans. After a period of 34 years the world MotoGP title has returned to Italy and to ‘motorland’ Bologna.”
The programme of entertainment, presented by Gerry Scotti, included concerts by top Italian groups Zero Assoluto and Roy Paci and a monologue from comedian Giuseppe Giacobazzi, before the appearance of Ducati Corse with its champions - the Y2K Women’s team, 2007 Superstock World Champion Niccolò Canepa, double World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss and triple GP champion Loris Capirossi. World champion Casey Stoner was unable to be present at the celebrations after Wednesday’s crash in MotoGP testing in Jerez, but he sent a video from Australia, where he is currently undergoing treatment for his damaged shoulder ligaments.
Official Ducati MotoGP test-rider Vittoriano Guareschi burst onto the stage with the awesome title-winning Desmosedici GP7 machine to be greeted with ovation by the Bologna fans, and they were then surrounded by the team and management, engineers, technicians and mechanics, led by Claudio Domenicali (Ducati Corse CEO), Filippo Preziosi (Director General) and Livio Suppo (MotoGP Project Leader)
“2007 has been a really crazy year and we needed a day like today to celebrate everything” declared Claudio Domenicali. “I believe that being here, in the heart of the city, all together, the company and its fans, is the best possible way for Ducati, whose driving force is its passion, to celebrate this title”.
In the morning the MotoGP team was received by the Mayor of Bologna Sergio Cofferati who bestowed on Ducati the “Nettuno d’Oro” award, not only for its fantastic results on the track but also as a sign of recognition for how the company is a perfectly integrated example of industry in the area. Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi also received the “Turrita d’argento” award from the city of Bologna for their fantastic 2007 MotoGP season.
Sponsors of the event were BNL-BNP Paribas (main partner), Alice, Unipol Assicurazioni, Regione Emilia-Romagna, APT Servizi and Radio 105.
