From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

THE DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM GUEST OF ITALIAN EMBASSY IN TOKYO

The official tests in Suzuka on March 30/31 gave the Ducati Marlboro Team a chance to visit Tokyo as guests of the Italian Embassy and meet the Japanese press and the Italian community in the land of the rising sun, among them entrepreneurs, professionals and finance and cultural operators.

His Excellency Gabriele Menegatti, the Italian Ambassador in Tokyo, opened the gates to his residence, which is one of the most beautiful mansions with gardens in the city, to about 300 guests invited to celebrate the “Reds” from Borgo Panigale just days before their MotoGP debut.

As well as the two factory riders Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi and their factory Desmosedici bikes, the Italian team was represented by the Team Director Livio Suppo and Technical Director Corrado Cecchinelli who had arrived directly from Suzuka.

Japan, where Ducati has its own subsidiary, is the third most important market for the Italian manufacturer with approximately 4,000 bikes registered in 2002 out of total Ducati sales of 40,000.