The NCR Ducati Team won the Canadian Thunder Championship riding a Ducati 848.
Twowheelsblog contacted NCR’s CEO Michele Poggipolini and here’s the interview we promised:We know NCR from the Italian Supertwin Championship, Desmo Challenge, the Millona, New blue.
Is NCR a race team or a manufacturer?The Italian Supertwins, Ducati Desmo Challenge and all the other Open 2V races are extremely important to develop this Ducati kind of engine family.
In four years NCR developed his own racing motorcycle, based on the Ducati 2V engine, the Millona, achieving impressive results and championships victories.
While we are still developing this Ducati engine and special parts for the Ducati bikes that use it, we are also focused on developing engine parts and kits for the new 4V Ducati engine family and the 84 is the project that started this development.
We raced the 848 and because the Thunder championship allowed the entry of the 848 and because it’s a project together with Ducati North America.
It’s a real great performance from the NCR test rider Valter Bartolini.
How does it feel for him to ride out of Italy?Valter is extremely happy to have won this national championship and he doesn’t have any problems to race out of Italy.
He is a professional racer and what is important for him is to race and win.
We also raced with Andrew Nelson, a young Canadian racer and he did a great season as well so many compliments to him too.
Do you have Italian team members in the team?Almost all the crew is Italian.
We raced in Canada with the factory NCR Corse Team.
The team manager, Joe Ippoliti (NCR, COO) is Canadian but with Italian origin and Valter’s and Andrew’s chief technicians and mechanics are all from Italy.
We had also a New Blue racing in the ST-Canadian Series that was managed by a Canadian technician and rider (an NCR customer)Is it possible for a client to ride the bike like the Ducati NCR bike? For example the winning 848?Yes, that is the goal of the project.
The NCR–Ducati 848 that raced in Canada has been completely developed and all the Ducatisti will be able to buy for their 848 all the special parts and kits to make it faster.
They can visit right now our website to check all the available parts.
On request we will also produce racing 848 parts that will be able to meet the specific rules of our customers championships.
Is it commercially important for Ducati and for NCR?It’s very important for NCR and for Ducati and for the North American market.
Canada is the fastest growing market for Ducati and NCR won this year their first national championship there.
It’s important to show the market that the 848’s are the best choice in his class and that with NCR, all the customers can really ask for high performance results.
How did Ducati help you?Ducati North America supported us officially and we really thank all their work.
In 2009 we will see a new American SBK team and NCR also had lots of experiences with the Superbike before with Frankie Chili.
A next step?Since 1967 NCR races Ducati motorcycles.
Until 2004 we raced in World Superbike.
The Corse are our passion and we want to share this passion with the Ducatisti through our high tech motorcycles and special parts and the races gives us the possibility to develop and to test our products.
We will see what the future will bring!Keep an eye on NCR Ducati, after winning so many races in Italy and the Canadian Thunder Championship.
Twowheelsblog will continue to bring all the lastest NCR news and we like to thank Michele Poggipolini for his interview!NCR Ducati 848 2008