The engineering powerhouse that turned racing into a triple crown

Countries & Cities · Published 21 October 2026 · Updated 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the high-stakes world of MotoGP, Ducati Corse isn't just a racing team; it is a massive industrial machine. Comprising 10% of the parent company's workforce, this division balances cutting-edge R&D with commercial dominance to turn Italian engineering into world championships.

Ducati Corse operates as a sophisticated four-department organization. While the sporting activities department manages the factory teams for MotoGP, Superbike, and Supersport classes, the commercial activities department serves as a vital hub for privateers. This latter group provides private teams with motorcycles, spare parts, and technical consultancy, ensuring the Ducati brand permeates every level of the racing hierarchy. Meanwhile, a dedicated marketing and communication team manages the brand's global image and official merchandising. The company's trajectory toward dominance was marked by strategic pivots. After a period as a subsidiary between 1998 and 2004, Ducati returned to MotoGP in 2003. This era saw the recruitment of icons like Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi. A turning point occurred in 2007 when Casey Stoner joined the team. His ability to maximize speed on long straights led Ducati to its first 'triple crown'—securing the riders', teams', and constructors' championships in a single season.

This feat was bolstered by the technical brilliance of chief engineer Alan Jenkins, who received the Sir Jackie Stewart Award for his work. Modern success is built on aggressive R&D. By August 2006, Ducati had constructed twenty 800cc units featuring diverse designs, preceding the 2007 season's new engine displacement regulations. Under the leadership of race director Gigi Dall'Igna, the team introduced the GP15, a full redesign of the Desmosedici. Despite periods of inconsistency—such as the winless seasons of Valentino Rossi in 2011 and 2012—the division remains a titan of the sport, recently securing its second Constructors' MotoGP World Championship in 2020.

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