OVER 30,000 FANS PACK INTO BOLOGNA’S CITY CENTRE FOR
DUCATI CELEBRATIONS
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.
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