P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Long-standing Ducati MotoGP Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti will depart the outfit ahead of the 2024 season to head up the
Ducati announced that its sporting director, Paolo Ciabatti, will be responsible for building up the newly-created off-road racing department. Their goal is to enter the top-level MXGP World Championship and AMA Supercross series in the coming years. Alongside this, Ducati plans to release several consumer off-road models in the near future. Mauro Grassilli, currently in charge of sponsorships and marketing, will replace Ciabatti and take over Ducati’s MotoGP and World Superbike programs in 2024. However, Ciabatti will continue to oversee national superbike and supersport activities until at least the end of next season. Although Ducati won’t participate in high-level motocross series next season, they will run a 450cc prototype machine in various national off-road events. Alessandro Lupino, an experienced MXGP rider, will campaign the prototype with assistance from retired two-time MXGP world champion Antonio Cairoli. Ciabatti, along with Gigi D’alligna and Davide Tardozzi, has been instrumental in Ducati’s transformation into a MotoGP powerhouse, winning 17 of the 20 races in the 2023 season and securing the rider’s championship and constructors crown.
