VOL. 54 ISSUE 6 FEBRUARY 14, 2017 P43
FACTORY ARUBA.IT DUCATI'S UNCOVERED
T
he factory Aruba.It Racing
Ducati team has officially
taken the wraps off its 2017 sea-
son contender, with incumbent
Chaz Davies being joined by
series returnee Marco Melandri
on the factory Panigale R.
Davies in particular will be
chasing nothing less than the
title for the Aruba squad in what
will be his third season at the
helm. The Welshman was the
rider to beat in the final quarter
of the 2016 season, taking six
straight race victories on his way
to third in the standings overall.
The 2017 season will see
the return of Marco Melandri
to world championship com-
petition after a near-two-year
absence following a disastrous
MotoGP season in 2015 with
Aprilia that saw the veteran
dumped before the halfway
point of year. Melandri is a
known quantity, however, hav-
ing taken 49 podiums and 19
victories in a World Superbike
career that has seen him ride
factory machines for BMW,
Yamaha and Aprilia.
The factory Ducati squad
also debuted young Australian
Mike Jones as their Superstock
1000 rider for 2017. Jones is
a former Australian Superbike
Champion and subbed for Hec-
tor Barbera in the Avintia Ducati
squad in MotoGP, having fin-
ished with a best result of 15th
at the Australian MotoGP. CN
Marco Melandri (left) and
Chaz Davies (7) and the
factory Aruba.It Racing Ducati
Team unveiled its 2017 livery.
2013 WorldSBK title on.
"There has been a lot of work
and preparation put in during the
off season from everybody and
now we are announcing the team
officially," Sykes said. "It is getting
to that time where we will be flying
to Australia soon. I am hoping to
go to Phillip Island and be very
competitive in the opening round. I
have been trying my hardest in the
winter to adapt to the bike. I would
like to arrive strongly in the first
round in Australia." CN
