– Nine wins and podium success in all of the season’s ten races, the 1199 Panigale R literally dominated the 2014 Italian championship

– The final race of the season saw Ducati close in first, second and third position, one more confirmation of the Ducati’s technical superiority

Mugello / Italy: Ducati celebrates the latest success of the 1199 Panigale R, as it crosses the line at Mugello this weekend to win both the Italian Superbike riders’ and manufacturers’ titles.

Expertly piloted by Ivan Goi, riding for the Barni Racing team, the 1199 Panigale R has achieved exceptional results throughout the entire 2014 Italian championship. The season quickly turned into something of a battle between Ivan Goi and another member of the Ducati family in the shape of Matteo Baiocco, also riding the 1199 Panigale R (team Grandi Corse & A P Racing).

While the opening round went to Baiocco, followed by Goi, second, it was the Barni Racing rider who would cross the line first in race 2, at Mugello, and again in races 5 and 6, at Imola. These race wins, plus further podium finishes at Vallelunga and Misano, would mean that Ivan entered the season finale with a 14-point advantage over Baiocco. The results of both Goi and Baiocco would see Ducati accumulate a 42-point advantage over second-placed BMW in the manufacturer’s championship prior to the final round.

The final double-header took place this past weekend at the Mugello circuit. While Goi qualified in second position for the two races, Baiocco lined up in seventeenth place on the grid. In race one, that took place on Saturday afternoon and in dry conditions, Goi immediately took the lead and was able to maintain this position and expertly manage the race to cross the line first, scoring his fourth win of the season. Baiocco was able to make a fantastic recovery over the 14-lap race, progressing from seventeenth to final second position. With both Goi and Baiocco on the podium, Ducati thus secured the manufacturers’ title after this penultimate race of the season.

In Sunday’s deciding race, the two Ducati men battled all the way to the line. Baiocco concluded the race second, followed by Goi, third. This meant that it was Goi who scored the championship win, having accumulated a total of 182 points, to Baiocco’s 167. Today’s final race of the season was won by Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado, also on board the 1199 Panigale R and on track this weekend as a wildcard entry with team Barni Racing.

No novice to competition, the Barni Racing team has experienced great success in this championship in recent years, having won a variety of Italian Superbike and Superstock 1000 titles each year since 2009. This season the same Italian outfit also triumphed in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup with the Ducati 1199 Panigale R. Competing in the international championship with riders Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado and Ondrej Jezek, it was Mercado who ultimately secured the rider’s title for Ducati.

Comments after today’s race:

Ivan Goi – Team Barni Racing #12:

“I dedicate this win first and foremost to myself because I’ve proved that I am still a winning rider, to Michelin, for believing in the rider-bike pairing and especially to team Barni Racing that, for the third consecutive year, has allowed me to fight for victory and achieve two national titles. I’m so very happy! I thank Marco Barnabò, Ducati and everyone who has supported me.”

Marco Barnabò – Barni Racing Team Manager

“It’s been an extraordinary season, rich in success. First we won the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup with Leandro Mercado and today the national Superbike title with Ivan Goi. I’m particularly proud of the work that the entire team has done; we’ve worked as hard as possible, both at the tracks and at home, without making mistakes, scoring one success after another. This year we decided to swap to Michelin and, despite not having experience with these tyres, we’ve been able to make the difference, thanks also to their precious support, and win a very important title. I thank Ducati for the support it has given us throughout the entire season as well as all of our sponsors.”