From a Ducati Press Release:

“This weekend’s San Marino Round of the World Superbike Championship is particularly significant for Ducati Corse and title sponsor Infostrada as confirmation is made that their ultra-successful WSBK partnership is to continue for the next three years. Since the three-year deal started in 1999, Ducati and Infostrada have finished on the podium 56 times in 65 races, with team riders picking up a total of 20 wins. The Italian telecommunications company and Ducati Corse have always shared the same values and philosophy – competition, technology and speed, as well as team spirit and the capacity to emerge – and this exciting experience, which last year saw the creation of the Ducati Infostrada World Superbike team, has now led to the partnership being renewed for a further three years.

“‘Infostrada is a telecommunications company that has chosen to be a protagonist wherever sport unites people, because this world arouses the passion of our target public: young, dynamic and open to innovation,’ commented Riccardo Ruggiero, Infostrada Managing Director. ‘We are very proud of the great success obtained together with Ducati and it is with real enthusiasm that we have decided to renew our partnership for a further three years’.

“‘We are particularly delighted with the trust that Infostrada has wished to confirm in us for the next three years. To be able to count on the support of such a motivated and enthusiastic partner will allow us to tackle future commitments in the best possible way’, added Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse Managing Director on the renewal of the accord.

“Meanwhile Ducati Infostrada’s championship leader Troy Bayliss heads to this weekend’s San Marino World Superbike round at Misano Adriatico firmly set on increasing his points lead in the 13-round championship.

“The 32-year-old from Taree, Australia showed real determination in difficult conditions at the Lausitzring, Germany two weeks ago when he picked up his third win of the year on his 996R Factory. This result, together with second place in the opening race, helped boost Bayliss’s championship lead to 23 points over Edwards (Honda). ‘It was a really good win in Germany and I managed to increase my championship lead, but there’s still a long way to go – six more rounds including this one at Misano – and anything can happen’, said Bayliss, who scored a brace of seconds on his first visit to the Santamonica circuit last year.

“‘But we’re looking good and feeling confident for the remaining races. Misano is a circuit I really like and the Ducatis have gone well there in the past, but it’s going to be a really tough weekend for everyone especially if it’s as hot as it was last week.’

“Ducati L&M rider Ben Bostrom received a major boost from last week’s scorching test session as he powered his Ducati 996R Factory bike to an impressive third place in the timesheets on a circuit he enjoys like no other. The 27-year-old from Redding, California, who also grabbed a podium place in last year’s race, is adamant he wants to put his recent disappointing form behind him. ‘I expect to win this weekend at Misano’, declared Bostrom. ‘Although I like to think I’ll go well at every circuit, you never know until the weekend comes, but after last week’s test the bike is working well and so are the tires. This race has to be the start of a series of good results for me. There was nothing more disappointing than Monza and then not being in a position to win at Donington made things even more painful.'”