This press release just in from Ducati:

BAYLISS, XAUS AND BOSTROM RECONFIRMED FOR 2002 SEASON

Ducati Corse wishes to announce that Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada), Ruben Xaus (Ducati Infostrada) and Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M) will be the Italian manufacturer’s factory riders in next season’s World Superbike Championship.

Speaking at the 59th International Bicycle and Motorcycle Exhibition in Milan today, Ducati CEO Carlo Di Biagio announced that the exceptional results achieved by all three riders in this year’s World Superbike Championship had led to them being reconfirmed for 2002.

“Ducati can consider itself to be totally satisfied with the results achieved by all of our riders, who have already been confirmed for next year”, said Di Biagio.

With one round remaining, the 2001 season has been an exceptional one for the Bologna-based manufacturer, which clinched the WSBK Riders’ title for the ninth time with 32-year-old Australian, Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada), and the Manufacturers’ crown for a record tenth time.

In addition, 27-year-old Californian Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M) had an exceptional five-race winning streak in mid-season on his way to six wins this year, while the talented 23-year-old, Ruben Xaus proved he is a real talent of the future, becoming the first Spanish rider to win a WSBK championship race when he scored his debut win in Germany. Ducati also achieved the prestigious target of 100 WSBK pole positions throughout the year.

Bayliss, Xaus and Bostrom will again form one of the most exciting and competitive team line-ups in 2002.

The final round of the 2001 World Superbike Championship takes place at Imola, Italy on September 28-30.