New CEO for Ducati

A statement released by Del Torchio said, "Ducati's primary objective, today and for the future, is to keep relying on the distinctiveness of its products, true icons on the international motorcycling arena, offering its clientele ever increasing quality, reliability and technological innovation. The Corse division, an area of excellence for Ducati, will continue to provide a steady foundation for the company. Using the know-how perfected on the track means injecting our core product with the extra that gives us a significant advantage over our competitors both now and in the future. Ducati is set to achieve further growth and efficiency, higher revenues and greater profitability. The results yielded by the turn-around, achieved by the management over the last year, should be encouraging for more shareholder satisfaction.”

Meanwhile the company is expected to launch a new Monster series later in the year - the first complete remake of the bike since it was launched in 1992. We're told it will concentrate on the two-valve air-cooled engine series initially, though it is likely to score a detuned 1098 powerplant for a high-end model at a later date.

Styling is said to carry some of the current Monster cues, but has nevertheless come in for a complete rework.