2012 World Superbike
Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati officially presented its 2012 World Superbike team this weekend at Sestriere on the top of the Piemonte Mountains in Italy.
The team attended this special event to celebrate the upcoming season including SBK protagonists Sylvain Guintoli, Jakub Smrz and Maxime Berger, all three on the Ducati 1198, as well as the new Superstock duo comprising Brett McCormick and Federico Sandi, who will compete on Ducati 1199 Panigale superbikes.
Fabio Alberti (Team Manager Effenbert Liberty Ducati) says: "I’m very satisfied with the enthusiastic cooperation of our team, this opportunity was enough to show the motivation of the team and the riders, who are going to have our full support.
"The optimism of the team manager reflected the overall attitude of the team owner and the CEO Mario Bertuccio, who bravely declared during his speech on Saturday’s night meet and greet : "We are here to win the championship! I can see already now that there’s a great possibility to make this dream come true."
During the presentation, the team performed a mock grid procedure with the assistance of local police in the heart of the city covered in snow. Sylvain Guintoli, dressed up in his leather suit, was surrounded by the whole team and many curious fans and passers-by.
When the sun went down, the team, sponsors and other special guests, including Giancarlo Falappa and Ernesto Marinelli, gathered for a pompous dinner and a special program that, for some, didn’t end until 6 in the morning.
Ernesto Marinelli, the Ducati Superbike project manager, shared his positive view and disclosed some main features of the brand new Ducati 1199 Panigale.
Ernesto Marinelli says: "I’m very happy to see that the team is growing. Now, they have 2 riders in Superstock and it’s an important class for us because it’s more close to the production motorcycle. On one hand, there are many differences between the new Ducati and the old one, on the other hand there are very few.
"Many from the technological point of view, we installed in this new bike all the highest technology that we’ve learnt from racing over the past 5 year. The similarities? It’s still a Ducati. We wanted to keep the familiar feeling, the characteristics and the feedback that the bike gives to the rider, of course with the emphasis on performance, lightness and beauty."
The program continued on Sunday to round up a successful weekend and to say goodbye, although not for a long time, since the team will meet soon, this time in much warmer Australia.
Maxime Berger says: "Everything’s been great so far. This is my second year in world superbikes with even more experience and resources and it comes without saying that I’m going to do my best."
Brett McCormick says: "I got to do the test last October and the team is a great bunch of guys. Good chemistry, good people, I’m super satisfied. It’s hard to be successful if you don’t surround yourself with good people. It’s hard to say what I expect coming in because it’s my first full year over here, but I think I’m definitely capable of winning races and I’ve heard really good things about the new bike."