Ducati boss says "no scooter"

The year 2011 is set to be an important one for Ducati, in the racing and product development spheres both.

Having netted the world's most famous and arguably the most talented MotoGP rider, Valentino Rossi, the company has also launched its new Diavel power cruiser and reports out of Italy suggest the company is even working on a maxi scooter.

With reports swirling around that the exotic Italian motorcycle company is researching and developing a high speed maxi to tap into the lucrative European scooter market (after Ducati's product development czar Claudio Domenicali hinted at an upcoming scooter), the big chief has piped up and said it's unlikely.

Ducati CEO Gabriele Del Torchio poured cold water on the scooter plans, explaining that his company would be "...concentrating on the next project for the sports market... We have no maxi-scooter in mind."

The question is, do we believe Del Torchio?

There's certainly no doubting that the new generation 1198 sports bike is of prime concern for Ducati, and is expected to be a big step up on the current model, with plenty of technical wizardry to boot. But the scooter plans may not be dead in the water.

When the head of product development says a maxi scooter is coming, we tend to believe him. Domenicali is the guy that signs off on new models, and though the CEO can pull rank, Ducati would certainly make a buck or two from an affordable (ish) scooter.

A scooter model would also increase the company's annual sales, and with current global sales of around 30,000, the mid-term target of 60,000 units would be helped along by a new model. Watch this space...

Read the latest Bikesales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at