Paolo Ciabatti abandons MotoGP

2023-12-21 19:56:21

Ducati faces an important change within its management leadership in MotoGP. The Italian firm has confirmed through a press release the departure of Paolo Ciabatti from his project in the Motorcycle World Championship to adopt a new role within the Bolognese factory, that of Director of the off-Road division of Ducati Corse, a new department that will be in charge of managing Ducati’s incipient project in the world of motocross.

Ciabatti began his first steps in the motor world in 1981, holding the position of press officer of SAAB Italia for eight years. In 1990 he moved to Mazda Italia, where he worked as Commercial Manager until Ducati signed him in 1997. Going on to serve as director of the Superbike program between 1999 and 2012, adding several titles alongside Carl Fogarty, Troy Bayliss, Neil Hodgson, James Toseland and Carlos Checa.

In 2013, after the departure of Valentino Rossi from the Ducati MotoGP team, Paolo Ciabatti changed paddocks and took charge of all sports management for the Borgo Panigale firm in the World Championship. They were difficult years of reconstruction, but the subsequent arrival of Gigi Dall’Igna and the growth of the Ducati project in MotoGP ended up consolidating in the form of two consecutive world titles in the hands of Pecco Bagnaia, a success for which Ciabatti also has part of the credit.

At 65 years old, and about to start what will be the longest and tightest MotoGP season in history with 22 weekends of competition, Ciabatti has decided to put an end to his stage in the world speed championship to focus on a less demanding but perhaps more exciting project.

The Italian manager will head the Ducati Corse Off-Road Divisiona newly created racing department in which you will have the support and advice of the motocross legend, Tony Cairoli, one of the architects of the development of the new Ducati 450 cc MX that will soon see the light of day.

Ducati’s off-road project will start in 2024 with a full-time presence in the Italian MX Championship alongside local rider Alessandro Lupino and the Maddii Racing team, which will become an official Ducati structure. According to the Italian brand in its press release, the Ducati Corse Off-Road Division will also have to prepare the transalpine brand’s assault on the MXGP World Championship and the AMA Supercross “in the next years”without specifying their date of disembarkation in these paddocks.

Ciabatti will not completely disassociate himself from the world of speed; The Italian will also retain the responsibility of coordinating Ducati’s sporting activities in the main national Superbike and Supersport championships, grids such as MotoAmerica, British Superbike, All Japan Superbike, Australian Superbike and CIV.

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Ducati has also announced that Mauro Grassilliuntil now Head of Marketing and Sponsorships at Ducati Corse, will assume the role of Sports Director that until now was in the hands of Paolo Ciabatti.