Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128235
1. 1_ :-1.1'1 ... . . . . . ..1 • •• 1 - .... Happenings In Motorcycling Ducati ha s won its 12th manufacturers' title in World Superbike competition this year . Here SBK boss Paolo Flammini (left) presents the managing director of Ducati Corse Claudio Domenicali (right) with the trophy. "Today Ducati is a reali ty throughout the wo rld , thanks to Superbike, because Superbike has given a lot to the company" Domenicali said . " Ducati has believed in this championship righ t from the start, and it has become our 'warhorse' fro m 19 88 / 89 and the first world title won in 1990 onwa rds. The World Superbike cham pionship is important because it allows us to expe riment with a massive amount of technical solutions, wh ich we then apply to our road -qoinq motorcycle range. This year has been fundamental for us both thanks to the victories of Neil and Rub en and to the success of the 999 Factory bike." The company 's 12th titl e was its sixth consecutive, while they have amassed 215 wins . 530 podium s and 116 pole positions . Wit h one race remaining in the 2003 season at Magney COUTS in October, it has already taken 22 wins, 58 podium s and nine pole positi ons in the 2003 season. Contributing to tho se titles we re th e rid ers who have wo n the rid ers' c ha m pi onshi ps on Ducati motorcy cle s in the World Superbike Championship. Carl Fog arty ma de the largest co ntribu tio n with four titl es, followed by Dou g Polen with two; Ray m ond Roche, Troy Corser , Tr oy Bayliss and finall y Neil Hodgson all have one apiece , for a total of 10 cham pionships. [j)JfJiJD@[l@DD&J~ 5J[l@{]D91] dJC!lJfB1] fP@r? [X]&JD{]D 5J{]DWfJiJD@[l@ • Clear Channel En tertainm ent, the promoter of the K&N Fi lters Del Mar Mile scheduled for October 3-5 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Del Mar, California, has decreed that every rider in all three of the featured races will have their own umbrella girl... on the grid. "Why not? " says Mike Kidd, th e visi onary behi nd the dec ision at Clear Channel Enterta inment. "This is the season finale , so we decided to add a tou ch of class to the grid and pro v ide th e fans with some eye candy, color and pageantry. We are exci ted to be worki ng with the stunning models of Um brell aGirl s US A, and as usual they will surely bring down the house." Ann As iano , of UmbrellaGirlsUSA was ecsta tic to be a part of the event. "Th e Del Ma r M il e has hi storicall y been my favorite event of th e year ," Asi ano said. "You ca nnot ask for a bett er venue, bett er weather and a world -cl ass facility , and th e racin g isn't bad either. Th e gir ls are fired up to be out here w ith the di e-hard dirt tr ack and now Sup ermoto fans ." . Th e D el M ar Weeke nd i s th e 54 th run ning of a thr ee day event, wh ich features the Eddie Mulder Vint age Short Tra ck , the Skip Van Leeuwen Short T rack Nat ional and the last and some say m ost eventful race of the Formula USA /K& N Fil ters Pro Dirt T rack Series. To cast you r v ote, log on to http:/ /www.cyclen ews .com. He would win thE Htle on wha teve r blkl! h. chaa 2 9.29% He would win ra ces but nat the title 17. 6 2% A H D nd a6 m Du n h~ d lid!f wDuld win the titl e I 1.'13% Can the World Superbik e Champ ionsh ip survive on a sing le brand of tires I PirelJiJ and the likely loss of two more of its star rioers fHoogson ano Xau sl to othe r se rie s'? A. Ye s B. No cu e. e n e vv s O CTOB ER 8 ,2003 3