DUCATI to compete in MotoE from 2023
The Italian manufacturer will be the sole supplier of the MotoE World Championship from 2023. Could this be a sign that there’s a production electric bike on the way from Ducati?
Ducati has just announced it's going electric with the news that it's going to be getting involved in MotoE from 2023. The Bologna-based brand has been beavering away building electric pedal-assisted bicycles for a few years (and has recently revealed a stand-up electric scooter), but there's been no news of an electric motorcycle. Until now.
The agreement between Dorna and Ducati is a big deal for many reasons. Firstly, it puts an end to the Championship's tie to Energica. Secondly, it confirms that Ducati is serious about electric motorcycles. And finally, it leads us to believe that there may be an electric production bike on the way from the iconic Italian manufacturer.
Although we still don't know anything about the bike that's going to be competing in the World Championship, we expect all the information will be released in the not-too-distant future. Here's what we do know...
Ducati will supply the grid with electric motorcycles for the MotoE World Championship starting from 2023 (which means we've got another year of Energica still to go).
The agreement lasts until 2026, which means that there will be (at least) four full seasons of Ducati's racing in MotoE.
Speaking about the news, Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding said: “Lightness has always been in the Ducati DNA and thanks to the technology and chemistry of the rapidly evolving batteries we are convinced that we can achieve an excellent result.
“We experiment with our innovations and our futuristic technological solutions on circuits all over the world and then make exciting and desirable products available to Ducatisti.
“I am convinced that once again we will treasure the experiences we have had in the world of competitions to transfer them and apply them also on production bikes.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, added: “We are very proud to announce that Ducati will be the new sole manufacturer for the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup. With their incredible history in the world of racing, it is a real honour to welcome this commitment and take on this new challenge together.
“We are eager to see what the future holds and continue to watch this technology develop and grow, with the MotoGP paddock and MotoE continuing to drive innovation and evolution in the motorcycling industry, while creating an incredible show on the track.”