Xerox Ducati appoints new WSB boss

XEROX DUCATI World Superbike squad has confirmed Ernesto Marinelli as the team's new manager from 2010.

Marinelli is set to replace Xerox's outgoing team manger Davide Tardozzi. Last week, BMW confirmed the company has signed Tardozzi for a three-year deal to head-up their WSB squad.

Marinelli, the former technical manager at Xerox, will in turn be replaced by Marco Lozej, who will also have the role of track engineer for Michel Fabrizio.

Team-mate Noriyuki Haga also has a new track engineer in the shape of Luca Ferraccioli, who returns to the Borgo-Panigale factory after a four-year stint as race engineer with the British GSE Racing.

"2010 will be a little different but I am extremely confident as well as optimistic", commented Ernesto Marinelli, the Ducati Xerox Team Manager. "Despite the important reorganization within the team, in reality most of the new members have already been working in Ducati for some time. Both Marco Lozej and Luca Ferraccioli have worked in Ducati for years and have a wealth of experience as well as great technical ability and personality.

"2010 once again represents a new challenge - we have faced many over the years and in most cases we have come out victorious. We will be doing our very best to take another title this year; our riders are in great shape and the entire team is more motivated than ever. We're all impatient to get back on track and are looking forward to the Portimao test."