Ducati confirms revised team structure

Ernesto Marinelli is promoted to team manager, while Marco Lozej takes on his previous role as technical manager

08 Jan 2010

Ducati Xerox has confirmed its new team structure ahead of the 2010 World Superbike with a handful of movements behind the scenes.

Necessitated by Davide Tardozzi's decision to leave his post as team manager, former technical manager Ernesto Marinelli has already been installed as his replacement, while his spot will now be assumed by Marco Lozej.

Lozej has worked with Ducati since 2000, but has previously focused on his role in the manufacturer's MotoGP development team. His decision to become technical manager will also see him take on track engineer duties for rider Michel Fabrizio.

Fabrizio's team-mate Noriyuki Haga, meanwhile, has a new track engineer too in the shape of Luca Ferraccioli, who returns to the Ducati fold after a four year stint as race engineer for multiple British Superbike champions GSE Racing. Massimo Meneghin will also come on as Haga's tyre technician.

"2010 will be a little different but I am extremely confident as well as optimistic", said Marinelli. "Despite the important reorganization within the team, in reality most of the new members have already been working in Ducati for some time.

"Both Marco Lozej and Luca Ferraccioli have worked in Ducati for years and have a wealth of experience as well as great technical ability and personality. 2010 once again represents a new challenge - we have faced many over the years and in most cases we have come out victorious.

"We will be doing our very best to take another title this year; our riders are in great shape and the entire team is more motivated than ever. We're all impatient to get back on track and are looking forward to the Portimao test."

Ducati's announcement comes following the confirmation that Tardozzi, who led the Italian manufacturer to 16 world titles, will join BMW as team manager in 2010.