Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. has released its 2001 first quarter financial report, which shows that revenues are up 2.9 percent over the same period of 2000 despite motorcycle sales being down 2.0 percent. Revenues were 106 million Euros or $88.8 million for the period ending March 31, 2001. A Ducati press release explained that although motorcycle sales were down slightly, sales of Ducati parts, accessories, and apparel were up 21.3 percent over last year’s first quarter.

“First quarter 2001 numbers were depressed by various factors,” the release quoted Carlo Di Biagio, Ducati Chief Executive Officer, as saying. “These include a combination of uncertainty about the economy in general, harsh weather conditions, particularly in the U.S. and in Europe, and delayed shipments of our high-demand new models, the Monster S4 and the ST4S, in certain markets.”

Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (trading symbol DMH) was up 0.15 points from its opening share cost of $16.00 on the New York Stock Exchange at 10:30 a.m. PDT Wednesday, April 18.

The positive financial news followed a phone call to Roadracing World with a pledge of $2900 for a whole section of Air Fence.