Stars join Ducati celebration
Some of the star riders who will help Ducati celebrate 50 years at the Isle of Man TT have been revealed.
There will be a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of Ducati’s TT debut, as well as celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of Hailwood’s glorious return to the TT.
Legends including Sammy Miller, Paul Smart, Trevor Nation and four-times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty will join the line-up for a special parade.
Ducati will also be supplying a fabulous collection of machinery from its illustrious racing history. Among the machines on show will be the very first Ducati to race in the TT – the 125cc Desmo Ducati – Mike Hailwood’s 1978 machine and the Ducati Desmosedici which carried Casey Stoner to the 2007 MotoGP World Championship.
The prestigious Ducati Museum in Bologna transporting some of its most famous exhibits to the Island for a week-long exhibition at the TT Grandstand in Douglas.
Fogarty’s 1994 World Superbike Championship-winning 916 Ducati and Neil Hodgson’s 2003 World Superbike Championship-winning 999 Ducati will also be on show.
On June 6, ahead of the Dainese Senior TT Race, there will be a Parade Lap in honour of Ducatim offering a chance to see some really exotic machinery ridden by some of the greatest Ducati riders.
Among those taking part will be:
Carl Fogarty – arguably the rider most synonymous with Ducati, and one of the most successful competitors on Ducati machinery. Foggy took a record 59 World Superbike wins and four World Championships for the brand between 1992 and 2000 and remains the most successful World Superbike rider of all time.
James Whitham – now a popular racing commentator, he enjoyed two seasons as a Ducati rider in the mid-1990s, finishing seventh in the 1994 World Superbike Championship and taking his only series win on the 916 Ducati in Indonesia.
Tony Rutter – had some of his finest career moments on 600cc Ducatis, taking four TT wins and four world titles, all in the Formula 2 category.
Sammy Miller - was in at the very beginning when he competed in the 1958 factory team alongside Luigi Taveri, Romolo Ferri and Dave Chadwick. Sammy, who was an accomplished road racer, came in fourth on that day and went on to even greater things as a truly outstanding trials rider.
Trevor Nation – competed on both 750cc and 600cc Ducati-Cagiva machines during the 1980s in the World Formula One and Two Championships, finishing third and fifth in the 1984 TT races.
John Barton – finished second in the 1997 Singles TT, third in 2000 and set the third fastest Singles lap of all time in 1999 at 112.21mph.
Iain Duffus – finished second in the 1995 Senior TT on the 916 Top Gun Ducati, setting his first ever 120mph laps and firmly establishing himself as a Superbike contender.
Paul Smart – one of the forerunners in putting Ducati on the international stage, Smart’s win at the 1972 Imola 200 remains one of the most prestigious victories for the Bologna factory.
Ian Simpson – had some of his finest career moments on Ducati machinery, winning the 1997 British Production Championship and finishing second in that year’s corresponding TT race. Also took wins and podiums in the British Superbike Championship for Duckhams and Red Bull-sponsored bikes.
Michael Rutter – rejuvenated in this year’s British Superbike Championship on the North West 200 1098 Ducati, he began his Superbike career on Ducatis as far back as 1992 and has taken numerous wins and podiums for the Italian brand in the BSB.
Throughout race week Ducati will also be offering guided demonstration rides, using machines from their latest range, starting from the TT Grandstand.
Isle of Man Tourism and Leisure Minister Adrian Earnshaw said:
‘Ducati have a fine pedigree at the TT and are also on a high at present following their first MotoGP World Championship success.’
‘We are delighted to be welcoming them to TT 2008 and I am sure the fans will enjoy visiting the Museum exhibition as well as seeing some of the finest Ducati riders ever in the Parade Lap.’