Tardozzi makes a return to Ducati Corse

Davide Tardozzi, the former Ducati team boss who took Carl Fogarty to his four World Superbike titles, will once again help lead a top level British rider in 2014, as he returns to Bologna to coordinate the Ducati MotoGP team’s organisation and logistics.

Tardozzi, winner of the first ever World Superbike race in 1988, left the Italian firm after a decade and a half at the end of the 2009 season in a shock move to BMW’s WSB effort. In his time at Ducati he won eight world titles as a manager, with riders like of Fogarty, Bayliss, Corser, Toseland and Hodgson among those he managed.

His new role at Bologna will now see him report to Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati Corse Sporting Director and MotoGP Programme Director, beginning from the first test in two weeks’ time. His appointment, alongside Ducati’s poaching of fellow WSB manager Gigi Dall’Igna from Aprilia, signifies the continuing major reshuffling of Ducati Corse as they attempt to reverse their fortunes.