Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali has been appointed as the new President of Motor Valley - a Bologna, Italy, area promotional association that brings together all the "Motor Valley" brands of the Emilia-Romagna region - "this unique motorcycle and car manufacturing area has over 16,500 businesses (10% of Italy's national supply chain) and employs over 66,000 people. It is home to a concentration of brands, private collections, international race circuits and specialised training centres within a 150 km radius that is like no other on the planet. Motor Valley encapsulates Made-in-Italy automotive and industrial excellence: it's a project that highlights the area's capacity to network and make the most of internationally unique qualities."
WRS, the noted Italian windshield manufacturer and distributor of select top end parts and accessory brands such as Ilmberger, Rotobox, Suter and Bonamici, has signed as a technical sponsor with Ducati satellite Reale Avintia Racing Team. This year Ducati has signed Frenchman and two-time Moto2 World Champion Johann Zarco to replace Karel Abraham in MotoGP at Avintia, racing on the Ducati Desmosedici GP19 with teammate Tito Rabat. WRS is also official windscreen supplier for the BMW WSBK team, factory Ducati supported Pramac Racing in MotoGP and 58 SIC Squadra Corse in Moto3.
An analysis by Bloomberg suggests that even after the U.S. administration's latest China trade deal, in 2019, dollar terms losses from China tariffs translated to $134 billion in lost GDP. Bloomberg is projecting that China tariffs will cost the American economy $316 billion by the end of 2020.
The UK is to bring forward its deadline to end sales of new ICT, Diesel and Hybrid vehicles from 2040 to 2035 - the ban will presumably include motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. The UK Government has stated that it may even consider making the deadline earlier still. Norway is aiming for a ban from 2025; Ireland, Sweden and the Netherlands are targeting 2030. London is also trying to ban fossil fuel vehicles in 2030.
Ducati has scooped up another Good Design Award ('Red Dot Award' - assigned by Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design, the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies German 'Red Dot' Award) for the Diavel 1260 S. "A true style icon, the Diavel 1260 continues its winning streak in international design competitions," says Ducati. "Powerful and beefy, this motorcycle combines maxi-naked performance with muscle cruiser ergonomics." Powered by the internationally respected 59 hp Testastretta DVT 1262 engine, this is the kind of air that Harley will hope its 975 cc 60-degree V-twin 'Bronx' streetfighter will breathe.
Italian sportsbike parts and accessory specialist CNC Racing has extended its partnership with Pramac Racing through to 2021. The technical and commercial relationship started in 2015 when CNC became Official Technical Supplier in MotoGP, providing 'Brake Guards' for the Ducati GP14. Since last year the relationship also included MotoE, and there has been co-development and co-branding of some CNC Racing products, such as carbon fibre air ducts to cool the brakes and carbon wings for Moto Ducati.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, B&B, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MNW. electricmotorcycles.news
