Ducati’s Davide Tardozzi Moves to BMW WSBK Team

Former Ducati Xerox Superbike team manager Davide Tardozzi was confirmed as a part of the factory BMW World Superbike team for the next three years. The 50-year-old Italian left Ducati at the end of the 2009 FIM World Superbike Championship season looking for a fresh start. Tardozzi will make his first official appearance as the BMW WSBK team manager later this month at the three day official test at Portimao.

"This is a new year and a new challenge. It will be a very big challenge though because next year will be a very tough season and right now if you look at all the manufacturers in the championship - BMW are the last,” Tardozzi told motorcyclenews.com.

"But I am confident that we can grow in the overall rankings very quickly. The team learned a lot in 2009 and with some small changes we can be very competitive,” he added, "I think both Troy (Corser) and Ruben (Xaus) are very fast riders and that as a team we can fight for the podium in 2010 and then for the championship in 2011."

Tardozzi has worked for Ducati since 1999, first as Team Manager and more recently, since 2007, as the SBK project manager. In all, Tardozzi has won eight Riders' Championships as a Ducati team manager.

Having almost won the first ever WSBK Championship for Bimota, Tardozzi was a seven times Italian Superbike Champion as a rider, and four times winner in WSB races. The Italian was replaced by Ernesto Marinelli in Ducati’s paddock.