Though a full-fledged factory team, Ducati Corse opted to run in the Open class in the 2014 MotoGP World Championship. The Italian team was introduced to the media in Munich at the Audi Forum. Since Ducati under Audi ownership and Philip Morris is no longer paying for the Vrooom-Vrrooom! events , it was only natural to see the official presentation held in Germany.
Ducati’s top riders for 2014 are Cal Crutchlow, who decided to put an end to his riding contract with Herve Poncharal and his Yamaha Tech3 team, and Andrea Dovizioso, continuing to ride for the Borgo Panigale team this year. Both Crutchlow and Dovizioso will be in the saddle of the Desmosedici GP14 motorcycles and compete in the Open class.
The official presentation brought together Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali who introduced the team personally, Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager), Paolo Ciabatti (Ducati Corse Sporting Director) and Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Audi AG for Technical Development.
Ducati will most likely find out today whether the 2014 MotoGP team will be listed as Open or as Factory 2, as Dorna Sports officially admitted it would like to. In case the FIM, Dorna, IRTA, the MSMA and MotoGP teams reach an agreement for the new Factory 2 class (which is likely to happen), Ducati will benefit from all the advantages offered to the rest of the Open class field: 12 engines instead of the 5 Factory teams are allowed to use in one season, 24 liters of fuel as opposed to 20 for the full factory bikes, unlimited testing and development.
However, should Ducati win a race, reach 2 second position placements or three 3rd places, the Factory 2 rules kick in, reducing the engine allocation to 9 units, and the fuel limit to 22.5 liters. For more on Dorna's new regulation changes, please read this autoevolution editorial.
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