DUCATI CHAMPIONS IN BOLOGNA’S PIAZZA MAGGIORE

Stoner, the Desmosedici and the entire Ducati factory to celebrate first MotoGP title win in Piazza Maggiore (Bologna) and Borgo Panigale on December 1st/2nd

Casey Stoner’s and Ducati’s fantastic win in this year’s MotoGP championship will be celebrated with a special event organised in Bologna’s historic Piazza Maggiore square on the first weekend of December.

The date, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd December, has been finalised with the agreement of the Provincial authorities and the Bologna City Council. Sponsor of the event will be BNL– BNP Paribas, together with Ducati’s long-term partner ‘Alice’, Unipol Assicurazioni, the Region of Emilia-Romagna, APT Servizi and official broadcaster Radio 105.

Numerous surprises, guest-stars and activities are planned for this big, ‘red’, end-of-season party organised by the Italian motorbike manufacturer.

Ducati celebrations get underway on Saturday with an open-day for visitors to the Borgo Panigale factory and museum, and the Ducati Shop and Factory Shop will also remain open. The entire suburb of Borgo Panigale will join in the celebrations while a photo gallery has also been set up at Bologna’s G. Marconi Airport. In Piazza Maggiore a race paddock area has been recreated with the Ducati MotoGP Team Hospitality unit and the Ducati Y2K Women’s Team truck, together with a Ducati Peg Perego Minimoto Kiddies’ Area and display stands from all Ducati’s partners. Live entertainment events in the piazza will be provided on stage by Radio 105, Alice with a ‘video-box’ and a competition organised by Alice and Ducati.

The Via Rizzoli Headquarters of BNL-BNP Paribas will remain open on Saturday and Sunday for this occasion with the initiative ‘A Day as a Champion’; the chance to purchase exclusive ‘fan kits’, to have access to a range of privileged BNL-BNP Paribas products and to pick up a free champion photograph.

Ducati’s weekend celebrations then switch into top gear on Sunday 2nd December when all fans, employees, motorbike and Ducatisti congregate in Piazza Maggiore for the numerous stage activities. The high point will be the presentation of the MotoGP team and the young Australian Casey Stoner at 6pm during the afternoon programme of music and entertainment. The event will be hosted by Radio 105 disc jockey Ringo, together with top TV presenter, Gerry Scotti.

“Celebrating with Bologna has a special significance for Ducati” declared Gabriele Del Torchio, Ducati CEO. “Our pride over the victory in MotoGP is combined with the enthusiasm of the city and this fantastic region, which has the passion for engines in its DNA and the technological excellence that together allow a dream like winning the world title to come true. It is simply not possible for us to celebrate this moment in any other place and the response that we have had from all the institutions such as the area of Borgo Panigale, the Bologna City Council, and the Provincial and Regional authorities has garnered further support from the numerous partners that have joined us for this event. Our thanks go out to everyone who has backed the initiative, the entire city and all those who will be in Piazza Maggiore and the factory on Saturday and Sunday to share the emotion of this magic moment with the Ducati Corse team that has achieved this fantastic result.”

The main stage will feature the Ducati Desmosedici GP7, the bike that dominated this years’ edition of the World MotoGP Championship, and which brought back to Italy a title that has been won by Japanese manufacturers every year since 1973.

The Ducati MotoGP Team’s young Australian star, Casey Stoner, who stormed to this year’s Riders’ crown and who helped win the Constructors’ title for Ducati, is scheduled to appear on stage, together with the engineers, mechanics and team members. The event has been organised so that the Italian company can share this fantastic victory with the city of Bologna, its inhabitants and all the passionate Ducati fans arriving for the occasion.

Further information are available at http://www.ducati.com/news/07/news034/news034.jhtml

CAMPIONI IN PIAZZA

Event program

In Borgo Panigale

Ducati Motor
Factory and Ducati Museum tours
(Saturday from 9am to 5pm, Sunday from 9am to 1pm)
Ducati Shop and Factory Shop: special hours
(Saturday from 9am to 6pm, Sunday from 9am to 1pm)

Borgo Panigale
“Borgo in Celebration”, traditional pre-Christmas market
(for both days, all day)

Airport
Ducati Photo Gallery in the Arrivals Area
(for both days, all day)


In the city, Piazza Maggiore

Ducati Village
(Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 1pm and from 2.30pm to 8pm)
• Ducati MotoGP Team Hospitality: media room and artist backstage
• Ducati Y2K Women’s Team Hospitality: bike exposition and Team interactions
• Ducati Minimoto Peg Perego Kids’ Area: tomorrow’s champions can try out the special mini-bikes conceived just for them
• Road Safety booth in collaboration with Unipol Assicurazioni, the Bologna Municipal Police Force and the Regional Road Safety Board
• BNL-BNP Paribas booth: event promotion ‘A Day as a Champion’ held at Via Rizzoli Headquarters and presentation of BNL-BNP Paribas offers
• Alice booth: video corner and entertainment, competitions and prizes
• Emilia Romagna-Motor Valley Region, Province and City info point
• On the stage, in collaboration with Radio 105, there will be a DJ set and entertainment (videos, distribution of gadgets and much more)

Emporio della Cultura
Information point, exhibitions and sale of memorabilia and gadgets (Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am to 7.30pm)
Ducati Corse books signed by the Champions (Sunday 12.30 to 1pm)

BNL-BNP Paribas office, Via Rizzoli 26
“A Day as a Champion”. An opportunity to purchase an exclusive ‘Fans Kit’ and special offers from the BNL-BNP Paribas range in the bank’s historic office, which has been decorated for the occasion in racing style, with the chance to pick up a free copy of your ‘Champion’ photograph (opening hours on Saturday from 10.30am to 5.30pm, on Sunday from 11.00am to 4.30pm)

Arcoveggio Racecourse
Activities and entrance free of charge for everyone at the Bologna racecourse. Menus in the restaurant and races dedicated to Ducati - World Champions. Games and entertainment for kids (Saturday 1 December from 1pm to 7pm).

The main event of the day will be the huge party on the stage, on Sunday from 4:30pm to 8pm.
Music, dance, comedians and entertainment are just a few of the ingredients that will liven up the day. The event is officially hosted by Dj Ringo and Radio 105 alongside top TV presenter Gerry Scotti, who will introduce the guests on the stage.
Special guests will be Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi together with the entire MotoGP team. Finally, a mega-concert with different artists to cater for all tastes will wrap the weekend’s proceedings.