Preziosi: “Mugello victory will stay with us forever”

Ducati’s Filippo Preziosi was on-hand for one of the proudest moments of his time with the Italian factory last Sunday, when rider Casey Stoner took the first home Mugello victory in the MotoGP World Championship for the manufacturer. The Australian had already taken a win at Misano in 2007, but the scene of the most recent round was a special target for the team.

Preziosi attended the podium presentation with Stoner and Ducati’s MotoGP Project Manager Livio Suppo, and stayed on in Mugello to oversee a three-day test by Vittoriano Guareschi with the Desmosedici GP9. Writing in the ‘Desmoblog’ from the Italian track, he extended his thanks to all involved in the historic triumph.

“The gift that Casey gave us last Sunday is something that will stay with us forever, along with our first victory with Loris Capirossi in 2003 and the 2007 World Championship win,” said Preziosi.

“It’s hard to imagine, that so many people would support us through the hard times. What has happened is something that many considered an impossible challenge: it isn’t rationally thinkable that a small factory like ourselves can beat the colossal Japanese giants of the World Championship.

”It is a beautiful thing to celebrate this with all of you. Of course, the season is tough and you can’t win all the time, but right now we will enjoy this victory.”

Ducati’s Borgo Panigale factory is located near to the Mugello circuit, a track at which the manufacturer regularly test throughout the year.