P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ducati has confirmed its intention to participate in the Suzuka 8 Hours in the near future with MotoGP riders riding its machines. Former MotoGP sporting director Paolo Ciabatti was in attendance for the most recent edition and disclosed his interest in fielding a factory Italian bike in the near distant future Ciabatti’s current role within […]
The former MotoGP sporting director Paolo Ciabatti recently expressed interest in entering a factory Italian bike in the near future, spoken during the latest event he attended. Currently in charge of off-road and regional superbike activities at Ducati, Ciabatti is looking at potentially competing at Suzuka in the FIM Endurance World Championship by 2025. In the 2024 event, the Kagayama squad competed with a Ducati Panigale V4 R with support from Ducati engineers, but Ducati aims to establish its own factory team. Ciabatti mentioned plans of increasing Ducati’s involvement in the event and hopes to bring in factory bikes and MotoGP riders to compete with the current team at Suzuka. Since its inception in 1978, no non-Japanese manufacturer has won the Suzuka 8 Hours, making it Ducati’s dream to become the first non-Japanese manufacturer to achieve victory at the prestigious race.
