DUCATI BIKES

THE FIRST 999 VICTORY? - TEAM ROX DUCATI

Although Neil Hodgson was credited with the first SBK win aboard the 999 in Valencia it was actually Lorenzo Lanzi who scored the first ever victory for the new model when, aboard the Team Rox Ducati prepared 999S, he took the win in the European Superstock series held just before the first World Superbike race! .

Team Rox Racing was created by Rossano Innocenti, a Tuscan tuner who has always loved the bikes built in the Borgo Panigale factory. In its first Sport Production 600 season, the team achieved good results with the Ducati 748 finally taking 3rd place in the championship with the rider Stefano Cruciani. In the next few years, the team continued to be successful, first in the Italian Sport Production series, and then in the Italian and European Supersport championships. For 2003, however, it looks as if Rossano Innocenti’s team has found an ideal combination of bikes and riders. All three riders (Christian dal Corso, William De Angelis and Lorenzo Lanzi) are enthusiastic of their new Ducati 999S “testastrettas” which have proved to be competitive immediately.

Lorenzo Lanzi, who won the first European Superstock Championship race in Valencia at the weekend, was the Italian minicross champion when he was a child back in 1989. In 1998, he became the Italian 125 S.p. champion, and in 1999 and 2000 he enjoyed good results in the Italian and European 125GP series. The following year, he raced in the 250GP World Championship.

Ducati Corse believed in Lorenzo’s ability and were happy when Team Rox Ducati signed him up. He landed the European Superstock ride after what he describes as “difficult and psychologically testing” year. Will 2003 be his year?

In Valencia, he immediately felt at ease on the 999S and, with the help of his Öhlins engineers, found the set-up that suited him perfectly. Lorenzo explains: “I focussed on searching for the right set-up during practice but it wasn’t until the warm-up for the race that we found the perfect setting. From that point, my bike seemed to fit me like a glove!”

After a difficult start, the Team Rox rider struggled in the pack until mid-race but then made a clean break and took the lead. Seemingly to underline his achievement, he then broke the lap record on four of the last five laps of the race, finally writing a time of 1’39.685 into the record books on the penultimate lap.

Lorenzo was very happy with his performance: “Climbing on the highest step of the podium again after five years was so exciting. This is a wonderful moment that I would like to dedicate to all those who believed in me.” Valencia was certainly a very good starting point to continue the bikes’ development. The bike, according to the Team Rox management and riders, still has so much more potential.

Team Manager Rossano Innocenti: “I had always believed in the great potential of this bike, and this is still only step one of its evolution, there’s so much more to come! We were under incredible pressure but never lost confidence despite all the difficulties. We left Valencia feeling very positive and knowing that we have done our very best. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ducati, and particularly to Ducati Corse’s Paolo Ciabatti, Davide Tardozzi, and all those who trusted us. We are a small team but great at team work.”