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Over 30,000 Fans at Ducati
Celebrations in Bologna
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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