Cupertino, CA (April 20, 2005) ­ Ducati North America will entertain New York City’s national and local celebrities, entertainers and sports stars at the official grand opening of the company’s newest motorcycle dealership in the Big Apple on Tuesday evening, May 10, 2005. Celebrated New York Chef David Bouley will cater the Italian-themed event at Ducati New York and promises to delight the patrons with a specially tailored cuisine, developed to commemorate the launch. Joining the “glitterati” in the beautiful state-of-the-art showroom at 155 Avenue of the Americas in New York City will be three Ducati SportClassic prototypes­ marking the only time that these amazing two-wheeled performance powerhouses will be on display in North America, prior to the highly-anticipated delivery of the production models in December 2005. As invited guests appreciate the ambience of Italy magically transported into the heart of the city, they will enjoy a privileged first look at the SportClassics’ essential beauty, timeless style and powerful emotion derived from the original Ducati sport bikes of the 1970s. Championship AMA riders Neil Hodgson and Eric Bostrom will be in attendance to present these stunning prototypes that echo the best of the past and Ducati’s cutting-edge technology and engineering of the present. This combination creates a modern motorcycle that embraces road-going performance and makes a powerful design statement ­in motion or at rest. The SportClassics energize a revitalized Ducati lineup that includes the new 2005 Monster S2R and the company’s flagship 999R superbike ­the ultimate racing machine that delivers heart-pounding performance wrapped in sleek Italian styling. “The launch of Ducati New York will be instrumental in bringing Ducati design, heritage and performance to one of the most dynamic marketplaces in the world,” says Ducati North America CEO Michael Lock. “Here we have a unique opportunity to showcase our sophisticated, muscular machines to some of the most important influencers, style-setters and decision-makers from the fashion industry to finance ­ and we hope our motorcycles will electrify and astonish them all.” Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, including innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. Ducati has won eleven of the last thirteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. The Company produces motorcycles in five market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport, Monster, Sport Touring and Multistrada. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in Western Europe and North American markets. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at ~http://www.ducati.com.~