(March 7, 2011) BOLOGNA, Italy — Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore attracted over 38,000 fans Sunday night in the biggest pre-season party ever organized by the Italian motorcycle manufacturer, an incredibly spectacular send-off for the Ducati MotoGP Team and factory riders, Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden.

The “Ducati MotoGP Night” event came at the end of an action-packed day that included an emotional visit to the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale, Bologna during which Rossi and Hayden toured the production lines and met the workers.

“It's great to be here," said Valentino as he met and addressed the Ducati workers. "I’d like to say thank you to everyone. We all look to do well in our work and the bikes you make are really beautiful. Carry on doing a great job here and we'll try to do a great job for you on the track."

Teammate, Nicky Hayden, was equally as impressed. “It's really very special to be here," he said. "I've worked for other manufacturers, but Ducati is really unique. The bikes are special, the people that work here are special and now let's hope that we can give them the special results that they deserve."



Later in the day the riders also attended a packed to capacity press conference where Hayden continued to talk about being part of the Ducati MotoGP Team.

“It has been a fantastic day and an incredible evening,” said Gabriele Del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. “What we have seen in the main Piazza here this evening speaks for itself. The city has responded incredibly and Ducati fans from all over Italy have travelled here to wish Valentino and Nicky all the best before they leave for the start of the 2011 MotoGP season.“

During the press conference, Del Torchio also took the opportunity to announce that an agreement had been signed to start work on a brand new factory in Borgo Panigale, Bologna.

“The new Ducati factory will be 134,600 square meters (441,488 square feet), a 15 percent increase over our current site,” he revealed. We have the possibility to be truly international, but to do so Bologna must be the central base of our operation. Borgo Panigale is the head, the heart and the hands of our company. The intelligence, the passion and the professionalism of Ducati will always be in Bologna."

While the press conference was drawing to a close, 38,000 fans had gathered in front of a huge stage built in Piazza Maggiore, ready to see the MotoGP team presented.

The incredible sound of the two Ducati MotoGP bikes in the centre of Bologna signaled the start of the 2011 season for the team, who will shortly leave for the first race in Qatar held on March 20.