So much for that Aprilia Superbike team!

[Karaya One]

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Italica Racing, the Aprilia USA-backed AMA Superbike announced at Infineon Raceway and slated to make its debut at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, is not racing at the Monterey, California track this weekend due to a hold up in its funding.

Mike Hale and Matt Wait are at the track to lead two Aprilia-owners-only fan rides.

Mechanic Jerry Daggett, who was hired by the team to build its chassis, is at Laguna Seca but working with Attack Kawasaki.

“You can only work so long without getting paid,” said Daggett of his relationship with Italica Racing. “They owe me a substantial amount of money.”

Italica Racing team principals, who are at Laguna Seca, according to Wait, could not be reached immediately for comment.

[ducatiwheelie]

might be because of this....11:15am EST 7-Jul-04 PR Newswire - First Call Wire (Ducati
Motor Holding S.p.

Ducati Motor Holding Presents its Offer for the Acquisition
of the
Majority Share of Aprilia

BOLOGNA, Italy, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ducati
Motor Holding
S.p.A. (NYSE: DMH, Borsa Italiana S.p.A: DMH), a leading
manufacturer of high
performance motorcycles, has presented today an offer for the
acquisition of
the majority share of the Aprilia Group.
This offer intends to solve the recent financial crisis of
Aprilia in
order to re-establish its role as a leader, built up over years
of hard work
and successes in the two-wheel market.
This operation is based on the wish to promote the Italian
two-wheel
industry consolidation. This new group, first of its kind in
Europe, would be
able to compete successfully at a global level, thanks to the
strengths and
peculiarities of each single brand, scale economies and the
technological
excellence resulting from the combination of each company's
competencies.
"Ours is a long-term industrial project," said Federico
Minoli, Ducati
Chairman and CEO. "We are not financial investors. We are moved
by passion
and we are dedicated to the success of Italian bikes worldwide.
We are
conscious that this success depends on respecting and enhancing
the different
identities of each single brand, each one directly linked with
its products,
its history and its territory, where manufacturing sites have to
be kept.
Technological competencies, the real asset of each company,
could be better
used in an integrated and coherent development plan that avoids
duplication,
and that concentrates its investment efforts on technology and
innovation.
All together these companies will have a great market
penetration force, in
particular abroad, realizing in the meantime important synergies
in sales
structures and distribution channels, as well as in purchasing
and
administrative structures. Our Ducati turn-around experience
leaves us
confident of the possibility of success and conscious of the
responsabilities
we are assuming versus an industry sector that has always
proudly brought the
Italian geniality and passion for the two-wheel industry to the
world."
Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles
characterized
by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced
engineering and
overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles
in five market
segments which vary in their technical and design features and
intended
customers: Superbike, Supersport; Monster, Sport Touring and
Multistrada. The
Company's motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries
worldwide, with a
primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American
markets.
Ducati has won twelve of the last fourteen World Superbike
Championship
titles and more individual victories than the competition put
together. For
more information about the Company, please visit our web site at
http://www.ducati.com
This press release contains statements that are
forward-looking and are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated, as
described in
documents previously filed by the Company with CONSOB and with
the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
-0- 07/07/2004
/CONTACT: For further information, please contact: Fabrizio
Nardi,
Investor Relations, Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. Via Cavalieri
Ducati, 3, Bologna 40132, Italy, Main Tel: +39-051-6413-111
Direct tel: +39-051-6413-213 E-mail: IR@ducati.com/
(DMH DMH)
First Call Corporation, a Thomson Financial company.
All rights reserved. 888.558.2500

[02SuperHawkRdr]

Wow, I thought Ducati was really only intersted in Moto Guzzi. I'm going to have to read up on this.

Aprilia's financial troubles have been well-documented as of late...though the last time I checked Ducati's coffers weren't exactly overflowing.

[Degsy]

Debating whether to sell my Ducati stock on Monday. I have been watching this developing news since Wednesday.

derek

[benVFR]

I heard yesterday that Aprilia's troubles are partly due to their dependence on European scooter market sales?

And the EU recently mandated a helmet law for scooters causing sales to drop?

Anyone else hear that?

Ben

[02SuperHawkRdr]

Originally posted by benSV
I heard yesterday that Aprilia's troubles are partly due to their dependence on European scooter market sales?

And the EU recently mandated a helmet law for scooters causing sales to drop?

Anyone else hear that?

Ben

Yes, to all of the above. The european scooter market is faltering, in part because of new mandatory helmet and licensing laws.

[Thrill]

Well that just sucks!!!!
Hope Aprilia gets their shit together for the Aprilia Superbike team.

Maybe Ducati buying Aprilia wouldn't be so bad after all....
What am I saying, HELL it would be worst thing for Aprilia......