Unbelievable! This certainly seems like strong evidence of the overwhelming power of the sponsor. Marlboro has installed Carlos Checa on the Ducati MotoGP team. Checa was never a great rider. He is not a great development rider. He has not been a factor in the championship for years. Crash.net

Michael Jordan rides Ducati MotoGP

This seems like the beginning of a juicy rumor. Does this mean that Jordan's AMA efforts will be using Ducati equipment? Superbike Planet

Bayliss flying on farewell ride.

Troy Bayliss provided the MotoGP paddock with a timely reminder of his talents today at Valencia, when - at the start of his final weekend with the Ducati Marlboro team - he occupied provisional pole with just five minutes of the first qualifying session remaining, before eventually taking a still promising overnight fourth. Crash.net

Desmosedici RR taking shape.

Officially presented to the 'Ducatista' in May during World Ducati Week, the development of the Desmosedici RR is continuing to take shape... Crash.net

Ducati 'smiling' for season finale.

The Ducati Marlboro Team comes to Valencia for the final race of the year following a morale-boosting Australian GP where Loris Capirossi scored a storming third-place - the team's first podium result of the year, to put the Italian-based crew in optimistic mood for Valencia. Crash.net

How the mighty have been reassigned

According to sources in Europe, former World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson will join Eric Bostrom next year on the Ducati Austin team and will compete for the AMA Superbike Championship.Cycle News

Update: Superbike Planet

Ducati North America financing

Ducati Press Release - Ducati North America and GE Retail Sales Finance are proud to announce their first joint promotional finance program. This new partnership brings Ducati owners the support and backing of GE, the largest financing company in the world. Ducati North America

Rumors of Hopkins joining Ducati MotoGP

Motorcycle Daily is speculating about the possibility that American John Hopkins will be moving to Ducati MotoGP for 2005. Frequently out performing his Suzuki teammate, Hopper has shown flashes of promise during 2004.As an armchair race manager and Ducati fan I believe that Hopkins would be a much better choice than Carlos Checa who has also been the subject of the Ducati rumor mill.

Hopkins is a young, hard charging, American rider at the beginning of his career. He would be a very valuable addition to the Ducati Corse stable. Motorcycle Daily

Terblanche supports Kerry

World famous designer Pierre Terblanche will make a U.S. appearance on November 19th, 2004 at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts. Cycle News

More speed from new frame in Ducati Oz test.

Following their first podium position this season in the race at Phillip Island this weekend, the Ducati Marlboro Team completed a two-day testing session of a most notably new frame at the Australian track. Crash.Net

"Ducati is back."

Loris Capirossi stormed to Ducati Marlboro's first podium finish of the season in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, a result he and Ducati believe marks a new beginning for the troubled factory team. Crash.Net

Xaus takes rookie of the year title.

He may have finished just eleventh in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, but it was enough for Ruben Xaus to secure the 2004 MotoGP rookie of the year title with one round to go. Crash.Net

Xaus: We need to keep calm.

It was a day of contrasting fortunes for d'Antin Ducati duo Ruben Xaus and Neil Hodgson at Phillip Island, the former finishing the first qualifying session as top Ducati rider in an excellent fifth, while Hodgson was left an unhappy 20th. Crash.Net

Capirossi, Bayliss lacking front end feel.

Ducati Marlboro riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss completed this afternoon's first qualifying session at Phillip Island in 6th and 12th positions after struggling with a lack of front end feel. Crash.Net

Bayliss confirms Ducati split.

Speaking at the pre-event press conference for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, Troy Bayliss has ended growing speculation over his future by officially confirming that he and the Ducati Marlboro Team will part company at the end of this season. Crash.Net

Ducati: No decision on Bayliss.

The Ducati Marlboro Team has told Crash.net that, contrary to reports, no decision has yet been made about the future of Troy Bayliss at the factory team. Crash.Net

Ducati cast Bayliss into wilderness

Australian Troy Bayliss has been dumped by MotoGP team Ducati for the 2005 season. Nearing the end of a disappointing second season in MotoGP, Bayliss was told by Ducati at last weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix that he would not be asked back. Sydney Morning Herald

Capirossi looks to the front.

Loris Capirossi ran as high as second quickest in today's first qualifying session at Sepang, before eventually slipping to seventh to lead the provisional third row. The Ducati Marlboro man is now focusing on improving front-end set-up for Sunday's race. Crash.Net

Ruben 'really motivated'.

Fresh from his first ever MotoGP podium last time out at Qatar, D'Antin Ducati's Ruben Xaus takes on the challenge of Malaysia's Sepang circuit this weekend, for round 14 of 16 in the 2004 world championship. Crash.Net

Ducati: Our time must come soon.

The Ducati Marlboro Team makes a flying visit to the tropics this week for the Marlboro Malaysian Grand Prix, round 14 of this year's 16-race MotoGP World Championship and the middle event of three back-to-back 'flyaway' races. Crash.Net

Factory Ducati riders hope for more at Sepang.

It is fair to say that the Marlboro Ducati riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss have not had the season they expected, however they hope to turn their bad luck around at the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix, this weekend. Crash.Net

Desert luck dries up for Ducati Marlboro.

Factory Ducati riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss endured a disappointing Qatar Grand Prix, at the brand new Losail circuit on Saturday, neither rider finishing the incident-packed GP. Crash.Net

Toseland wins world title

Britain's James Toseland secures the World Superbikes crown after a superb display at Magny-Cours. BBC Sport

'Delighted' Xaus claims first MotoGP podium.

Ruben Xaus capped an impressive Qatar weekend by taking his very first MotoGP podium, in only his thirteenth premier-class start, after finishing third on his year old d'Antin Ducati - behind only Telefonica Honda team-mates Sete Gibernau and Colin Edwards. 'Crash.Net

Toseland crowned World Superbike champion.

James Toseland has been crowned the 2004 World Superbike champion after finishing second to Noriyuki Haga in the final race of the season, at Magny Cours. Crash.Net

Toseland wins race one of title decider.

James Toseland will take a 5-point lead over Ducati Fila team-mate Regis Laconi into the final race of the 2004 World Superbike season, after winning a tense race one at Magny Cours, just ahead of Noriyuki Haga, with Laconi third. Crash.Net

Xaus takes his first ever MotoGP podium.

Sete Gibernau has led a Telefonica Honda one-two in a dramatic first ever Qatar Grand Prix, which also saw Ruben Xaus take his first ever MotoGP podium and world championship leader Valentino Rossi crash out after a determined charge from the back of the grid. Crash.Net

Xaus: I battled like a soldier.

Ruben Xaus may have been unable to hold his shock provisional pole, but the d'Antin Ducati rookie still qualified seventh for Saturday's inaugural Qatar Grand Prix – just 0.3664secs from pole position. Crash.Net

Stage set for thrilling title showdown.

The final round of the World Superbike championship at Magny-Cours is set to be a thriller after all three championship contenders – Ducati Fila riders James Toseland and Regis Laconi, plus Ten Kate Honda's Chris Vermeulen - qualified within 0.1secs of each other for tomorrow's two races. Crash.Net

Ducati Marlboro ready to attack.

Ducati riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss will start tomorrow's Qatar Grand Prix - the Middle East's first-ever motorcycle GP - from the second and third rows of the grid after a thrilling final qualifying session. Crash.Net