Aruba.it renews Ducati partnership in WorldSBK, unveils MotoGP wildcard livery

A collaboration that began in 2015, Aruba.it has since been the title sponsor for the full factory Ducati WorldSBK team. 

Although the two have failed to deliver a championship together thus far - Alvaro Bautista currently leads the WorldSBK standings - Ducati and Aruba.it have taken 65 victories since 2015, second only to Kawasaki. 

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Four of those have come from Bautista in 2022, after the Spaniard returned to Ducati following two seasons at Honda. 

Aruba.it and Ducati’s partnership will also make its debut in the MotoGP world championship as early as this weekend at Mugello, as wildcard rider Michele Pirro will be riding with the WorldSBK-inspired livery. 

Aruba.it’s agreement with Ducati will see them take part in a total of three one-off MotoGP appearances in 2022.

"The relationship with Ducati is a strong bond in the Superbike World Championship and a fruitful collaboration between the two companies," said CEO of Aruba S.p.A. and Team Principal Aruba.it Racing - Ducati, Stefano Cecconi. 

"We are proud to represent Ducati on circuits around the world and to have renewed the agreement that will allow us to continue this adventure at least until the end of the 2024 season. 

"From this season, participating as a wild card in three events of the MotoGP World Championship is for us a source of further satisfaction and it underlines the strong connection with the Borgo Panigale company. 

"Not only it will be a new showcase for Aruba.it, but it will give us the chance to undertake a new fascinating challenge with the same commitment and professionalism that has distinguished us so far in World Superbike."

While Ducati haven’t won a title in either MotoGP (2007) or WorldSBK since 2011, the Italian manufacturer continues to be one of the more competitive brands in both series’, highlighted by Enea Bastianini’s three wins in seven MotoGP races thus far in 2022.

Francesco Bagnaia has also taken one win, bringing Ducati’s tally to four, while Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM all have a victory apiece. 

In WorldSBK Ducati have won four times from nine races, all at the hands of Bautista who is second to Kawasaki and Jonathan Rea with five. 

Aruba.it ‘represents Italian excellence’ says Claudio Domenicali

"We are truly satisfied with the long-term partnership that has bound us to Aruba.it for eight years," said the Chief Executive Holder of Ducati) "It is a company that, like Ducati, represents Italian excellence driven by innovation. 

"The agreement extension until 2024 confirms the quality of a partnership which has gone from strength to strength year after year from a business and sporting point of view. 

"In addition to the extensive commitment to World Superbike, this season includes the new challenge in the Supersport World Championship and the satisfaction of seeing a Ducati racing in MotoGP with the Aruba.it Racing team colours that, for all the fans, are the natural colours of the official Panigale V4 R competing in the Superbike World Championship."