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The Partnership with Ducati
Shell celebrates ten years of technical partnership with Ducati in 2009. Find out how Shell work closely with Ducati to transfer knowledge from the track, to the road.
Michael Knaak within the Shell Track Lab
The 2009 season is set to be a very special one for Shell and Ducati, with the technical partnership between the two respected brands reaching its tenth anniversary. Beginning in 1999 with the World Superbike Championship, the agreement was extended to the MotoGP Championship in 2003. Shell uses learnings from the race track to inform the development of Shell V-Power road fuels and Shell Advance lubricants so that bikers all over the world can get the most out of every drop.
The results have been constant across the ten-year relationship, with Shell’s continued goal to provide Ducati with 100% reliability, whilst optimising the power output from the bike. Jörg Landschof, Fuel Development Expert, Shell Global Solutions explains, “The target is always to increase the engine efficiency, ideally by getting maximum possible power at minimum possible consumption. Sometimes this can be a difficult task. The Shell V-Power fuel blend is constantly being developed as we continue to learn by racing these high revving, ultra-powerful engines. The knowledge gained at the track for fuels and lubricants is then used in Shell V-Power road fuels and Shell Advance lubricant - to the benefit of the customer”.
For 2009, Shell’s technical input will be a vital factor in Ducati’s MotoGP success. Shell technicians focus on maximising the power provided by the Shell V-Power racing fuel, while developing Shell Advance Ultra 4 racing oil to further reduce friction in the engine and ensure the greatest possible performance from the Ducati bikes.
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO and Ducati Motor Holding product director adds, “We are extremely proud to be celebrating ten years of collaboration with Shell and to be able to continue to count on a partner that is so dedicated to top-level technical development and research. Shell develops oils and fuels for the highest levels of motorsport competition, such as Formula 1, MotoGP and Superbike, and then transfers the experience gained into creating products for the road, a philosophy that we in Ducati have always adhered to and which further strengthens the link between our two companies.”
Today, Shell’s technical partnership with Ducati has become one of the most successful in motorsport, with seven World titles and over 150 wins collected during its first 10 years.
At the core of this relationship lies a common passion for technology: Ducati develops its legendary race and road bikes, while Shell works to design high-performing fuel and lubricants for the benefit of bikers worldwide.