A major surprise out of Borgo Panigale this afternoon. Ernesto Marinelli, the man behind so much of Ducati’s World Superbike success, is to leave the company at the end of 2017 for pastures new.
Marinelli has been a lynchpin in Ducati’s WSBK operation, working with the company for 22 years. He started as a track engineer, working with both Carl Fogarty and Neil Hodgson, but soon took on a major role in Ducati’s racing operations.
The Italian led Ducati’s AMA racing program at the end of last century, working with such legendary riders as Troy Bayliss, Ben Bostron, Anthony Gobert, and John Kocinski.
After returning to Europe, he took over the role of technical director, then project manager of Ducati’s WorldSBK project.
Marinelli leaves big boots to fill. At the moment, it is not known either where he is headed to for next year, nor who will take on the role once he departs.
But it does allow his replacement a year of breathing space, as 2018 will be the last year of the Ducati Panigale R v-twin racing platform, before the Italian factory switches over to the V4 bike to be launched at the end of this year.
“After 22 years it’s not easy to say goodbye and turn over a new leaf, and if you leave a company like Ducati, the decision becomes even more difficult,” said Marinelli. “Nevertheless, for each and every one of us, the time comes to raise the bar and face up to further challenges.”
“I’m leaving Ducati in the knowledge that I have lived numerous unforgettable and successful moments, sharing passion, dreams and satisfaction, as well as defeats, disappointments and difficulties.”
“All of these have marked and shaped my professional career and they have helped me to understand that ‘never give up’ is not just a saying but to all intents and purposes a style of life.”
“For my future, I’ve decided to accept a new professional challenge and put myself to the test again, albeit with the awareness that everything I leave behind will always have an important place in my memories and my heart.”
Source: Ducati Corse
This article was originally published on MotoMatters, and is republished here on Asphalt & Rubber with permission by the author.
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