From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM – PRESS INFORMATION

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM LAUNCHED IN MILAN



Milan (Italy), 14 February 2003 – The Ducati Marlboro Team for the MotoGP championship was launched today at the FilaForum, Milan, in what is sure to become yet another important chapter in Ducati history. The presentation of the new Desmosedici took place in front of 400 people, including journalists and media from all over the world, institutional figures and sponsors, in a spectacular audio-video light-show display. The bike that will mark Ducati’s return to Grand Prix racing, was finally presented in its definitive colours for the season ahead, and after a thirty year absence, Ducati will now surely play a leading role in MotoGP, while continuing its commitment to the World Superbike Championship.



A series of speeches preceded the spectacular entrance of the Desmosedici on the stage, ridden by the two riders of the Ducati Marlboro Team.

With an introduction capable of relaying all the enthusiasm and passion of Ducati, Federico Minoli, president of the Bologna-based company, opened the proceedings. “We couldn’t have chosen a better date for the presentation of our team, our riders and our beautiful bikes: February 14th! In Ducati we are in love with any project that is capable of giving us excitement, pleasure and passion as a team.”

“MotoGP represents an important investment for the company, which by stimulating research and development will allow us to continue to grow and improve our products, while increasing the renown of the company name and offering a positive return in terms of sales” added Carlo Di Biagio, Ducati Motor Holding CEO.

Then it was the turn of Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse Managing Director, who illustrated the technical details of the bike. “The Desmosedici has already carried out 12,000 kms of track tests and a further 5,000 will be completed before the first round of the season on April 6 at Suzuka. Today we know a lot more about the bike, and we are reasonably sure of our potential. Troy and Loris are proving to be a perfect team. They are working together, sharing information and both of them are a real surprise. The Desmosedici is the result of a lot of research and great passion, and is a bike that has a number of interesting technical features such as the new four cylinder V90° Desmo 16 valve engine, or the innovative and exclusive stress-bearing frame, which has been adapted from Formula 1. Although retaining Ducati’s tubular trestle design, this enables weight to be saved by using the engine as a stress-bearing member”.

Preceded by the noise of the powerful four-cylinder Ducati engine, Troy and Loris then arrived directly on the stage on the bike in its new colour scheme.

“This is a great day for Ducati and I am really proud to be a part of the Ducati Marlboro Team for the MotoGP championship” declared Troy Bayliss. “The Desmosedici looks fantastic in its new colours, testing has gone really well and all of us in Ducati can’t wait to line up on the grid at the first race of the season.”

“Now we are finally a team!” commented Loris Capirossi, “and we are ready to start the season. After the excellent results achieved in winter testing, I have finally seen the definitive version of the Desmosedici. We are all really enthusiastic and ready for the challenge that lies ahead”.

Before the start of the championship on April 6th at Suzuka (Japan), the Ducati Marlboro Team will take part in three days of official IRTA tests from 21-23 at Jerez de la Frontiera (Spain), and then Estoril (Portugal) on 26/27 February, followed by Barcelona (Spain) on 15/16 March.