Source: Supplied.

Ducati Corse has pulled the covers off its 2016 MotoGP World Championship challenger, the Desmosedici GP16, during a presentation in the Ducati Auditorium, Borgo Panigale, overnight.

The factory entry of Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone was revealed to the public, featuring the topical aero wings as part of the paint scheme ahead of the new grand prix season.

“2016 will be our fourteenth year in MotoGP and today’s Ducati is certainly a different company from when we made our debut in 2003,” explained Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding.

“It is a healthy, solid company that has grown in a significant way, one that now has 1540 employees throughout the world and which in 2015 reached a sales record of more than 54,000 bikes delivered.

“The team launch, which marks the start of a new racing season, is an exciting and important moment at the same time. I have a lot of faith in Gigi Dall’Igna and in all the people who with their commitment and their devotion make our dream come true.

“All of Ducati Corse, together with Andrea Dovizioso, Andrea Iannone, Michele Pirro and an exceptional test-rider like Casey Stoner, are extraordinarily valuable due to their talent, expertise and the team spirit that they represent – that of the true Ducatisti.”

Ducati Corse general manager Luigi Dall’Igna added: “The Desmosedici GP that we are presenting today in its definitive livery is an evolution version of the bike that we used throughout last year. In this season there have been some important regulation changes, the unified software and the new Michelin tyres, and so the most important part of the work has been to adapt the bike to these changes.

“Our aim for this year is to be constantly together with the leaders in all rounds of the championship. In 2015 we obtained eight podiums with the factory team with four second places, but we did not always have the same consistency in our performance during the season.

“This year however the aim is to always fight for the leading positions and get back to winning races again. We know that it is an extremely ambitious aim, but we are used to accepting the most difficult of challenges.”

In a few days’ time the Ducati Team will be leaving for Qatar where the third and final IRTA pre-season test session will be held at the Losail International Circuit.