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The Shell Team
Shell works closely with Ducati all year round, to provide race winning fuels and lubricants. Meet the experts who drive this ten-year-old technical partnership.
Lubricant Development Expert and Ducati Technical Partnership Project Leader, Shell Global Solutions
Michael Knaak
The innovation and development of the Shell Advance racing lubricant for the Ducati teams competing in both the World Superbike Championship and MotoGP falls under the responsibility of Michael Knaak. Based in Hamburg, Germany, Michael is also the project leader for the technical partnership with Ducati. He is responsible for ensuring development and delivery of all the Shell products that give Ducati Corse that extra competitive edge on the race track, including race fuels.
Michael’s passion for motorcycles encouraged him to study for a Degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduating with a Masters Degree, Michael joined Shell in Hamburg and later also worked at Shell UK in Chester, immediately becoming involved in working on vehicle technology. He has since held a variety of technical motorsport roles within the company, eventually leading him to his position designing and developing Shell Advance lubricants for Ducati Corse in World Superbikes and MotoGP. Michael uses his learnings from Shell’s motorsport activities to help develop Shell Advance motorcycle oils for the road.
A key milestone in Michael’s career was the implementation of a mix of highly effective 'friction modifiers' in the latest blends of Shell Advance lubricant in 2004. This discovery allowed the Ducati Desmosedici engine to produce significantly more horsepower, just by changing the oil, without compromising engine reliability.
Fuel Development Expert, Shell Global Solutions
Jörg Landschof
Jörg Landschof has an extensive background in global motorsport fuel development, including trackside analysis for the all-conquering Audi team at the famous 24-hour endurance race at Le Mans. With over 23 years experience in racing fuel design and development, Jörg has been working on the Ducati Corse motorcycle racing fuels since the very beginning of the technical partnership in 1999.
Based in Hamburg, Germany, Jörg works alongside the Shell Advance lubricants team to design and produce Shell V-Power race fuels to help power the Ducati Superbike and Ducati MotoGP Desmosedici to victory. Jörg is responsible for new fuel development, production of required quantities of racing fuel and its quality control. He also ensures that Shell V-Power racing fuels maximise their contribution to the performance of the Ducati 1198 and the Desmosedici GP9 throughout the year in both testing and racing.
Jörg, along with the other Shell technicians and engineers, is in constant day-to-day contact with the engineers at Ducati. The friendly and open nature of the technical partnership has benefitted the Shell team in developing road fuels such as Shell V-Power, transferring considerable knowledge of optimising a fuel’s contribution to a bike’s power and efficiency from the track to the road. Jörg’s strategic support and contribution facilitate improvements in road fuel formulation to maximise the responsiveness of road bikes as well as the Ducati Corse race contenders.
Global Motorcycle Sponsorships Manager, Shell Brands International AG
Rémi Sinaï
Rémi Sinaï is based at Shell’s headquarters in Switzerland. As Global Motorcycle Sponsorships Manager, Rémi is responsible for the commercial aspects of Shell’s technical partnership with Ducati Corse across the World Superbike and MotoGP programmes. Originally from France, Rémi joined Shell Brands International in early 2008 and is in constant contact with the Ducati team.