"We have signed a four-year contract with Marlboro which will enable us to take part in the MotoGP championship knowing that at our side we have a sponsor that has contributed to some of the greatest chapters in motorsport history, and with whom we will be tackling this new challenge with great enthusiasm" declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO. "We are delighted with the trust granted to us by our main sponsor for the future".

The aim of starting the 2003 world championship with a top rider from MotoGP and one from Superbike, originally announced during the presentation of the Ducati Desmosedici at Mugello in May, has now been achieved.

"We strongly wanted Troy and Loris because both have shown themselves to be extremely talented riders and above all because they are totally committed to our project" added Domenicali. "The desire to win and to face new challenges that we see in both of them was the deciding factor in our decision. Thanks to their experience, we are certain that we will make our MotoGP debut with a top-level team and with the right motivation to develop the Desmosedici as quickly as possible. For all of us in Ducati Corse, the fact that we have two champions in the team is a further motivation to tackle this great adventure with the enthusiasm and passion that distinguishes us. We are aware of the difficulties that lie ahead but we are also aware that we have all the human, financial and technological resources to tackle them with maximum commitment and determination. We are also pleased that our choice respects the wishes of Ducatisti.

Ducati Corse's technological partnership with Shell Advance has also been renewed for the next three years. Thanks to its experience in Formula 1, Shell is the ideal partner for the development of lubricants and fuels for GP engines, which can reach rotation speeds of up to 17,000 rpm.

"Collaboration with Shell Advance has continued successfully since 1999. Shell's experience with high-performance engines is, in this early testing phase, already proving to be of great help in the development of our new GP engine" declared Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse Technical Director.

The testing of the Ducati Desmosedici will continue in the coming months, first with test-rider Vittoriano Guareschi and, from October onwards, also with Troy Bayliss. The reigning World Superbike champion will be defending his title in the final round of the season at Imola on September 29th, after chief rival Colin Edwards overtook him by one point in the last round at Assen, despite Troy's 14 wins to the American's 9 during this incredible season of Superbike racing.

Loris Capirossi, thanks to the generosity shown by his current team manager Sito Pons, will begin testing the Desmosedici at the end of the 2002 MotoGP championship.

Troy Bayliss released this statement.

"I’m really happy and excited to be part of this fantastic project with Ducati,” said Bayliss, from his home in Monaco. “I have secured a two-year deal with Ducati that will allow us every opportunity to get the absolute best out of the bike at this early stage of it’s development.”

“It’s not easy to get into Grand Prix, especially for a person of my age (33) to be chosen ahead of a lot of other and in some cases younger riders, so it is a real honour. I think I deserve the job, given my results in the Superbike World Championship, but I’m really grateful and will do everything to endorse the decision by Ducati for me to ride the bike.

“I had never thought about 500’s in the past because it was quite a different step to go from a four-stroke Superbike to a two-stroke 500 and felt that I’d see out my racing days on a Superbike, but as soon as I heard Ducati was building a MotoGP bike, I was already thinking that is where I wanted to be.

“It will be a challenge, but I see it as being a more powerful Superbike, not like hopping on a 500 two-stroke. It will be a Ducati and it will be more powerful and lighter than the Superbike I’m used to riding, but I feel that it won’t be a huge step for me to take.

“I haven’t ridden the bike as yet, but I will be on it very soon after the final Superbike round at Imola at the end of September. It has been hard being at the track while the team have been testing the bike and all I can say is that it sounds unbelievable. I think the fans will definitely enjoy it.

“We do have a lot of work ahead of us. I have a lot of new tracks to learn, as will my team, plus the development of a new bike. It will be a big job for all of us, but I will have the advantage of having a lot of the current team members around me and that will a great benefit as well.

“Having Loris (Capirossi) as a team mate will be great. He has a lot of experience which will be helpful for the development of the bike, but I will still be out there doing the best that I can. I think it is a good choice by Ducati to sign Loris and I’m sure we will work well together.

“All I know is that I will be giving it everything that I’ve got to do the best job for Ducati and everyone else who is involved in the project.”