Ducati joins forces with AMG Mercedes

DUCATI has announced it is to collaberate with German car tuning specialists AMG Mercedes.

The initial aim is to develop common marketing activities between the two iconic companies. The cooperation agreement was signed this week during a press conference at the Los Angeles Auto Show, by Gabriele del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A and Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

"We are especially proud to have AMG as one of our sponsors for the Ducati MotoGP Team. I am also very pleased that our joint marketing activities are well under way. In AMG we have found a partner who perfectly reflects our brand values of high performance, motorsport, excitement and our sense of unmistakable style and design," said Gabriele del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.

"I am very pleased that we are able to announce our strategic cooperation with Ducati today. AMG and Ducati ideally complement each other, as both companies share the same values: racing as the driving passion, and high performance plus exclusivity as the central brand messages of both AMG and Ducati. This long-term cooperation will help us to jointly access new customer groups," said Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Ducati MotoGP man Nicky Hayden was on hand for the event, posing with del Torchio and Källenius.

Insiders believe Valentino Rossi's defection to the Italian squad has prompted the liaison between the two companies.

However, Rossi was not at the presentation.