Shell, Ducati extend 20-year partnership

Shell and Ducati, partners since 1999 in World Superbike and from the factory's 2003 debut in MotoGP, have announced a further three-year agreement, until the end of the 2022 season.

The companies have celebrated over 200 WorldSBK/MotoGP wins and seven riders’ titles during their time together.

"It's a long-term partnership, we know each other very well, and this for sure helps us to develop new solutions," Ducati Corse general manager Gigi Dall’Igna told Crash.net on Thursday at the Malaysian MotoGP.

"I'm honestly really happy and sometimes surprised about the evolution that Shell gave to us since I joined Ducati at the end of 2013. From the horsepower point of view, but also durability with the lubricants, Shell has helped us to solve some problems and they are a real technical partner.

"We use exactly the same spec of fuel and oil [at each race on the calendar]. In the past, the oil could be different for Superbike and MotoGP, but today we have the same lubricant and fuel in both championships."

Factory Ducati MotoGP rider Danilo Petrucci also credited the fuel and oil for helping Ducati set record top speeds.

"Our engine oil is one of the most stressed because our engine is one of the most powerful on the MotoGP grid," said the Mugello winner.

"For sure we always need a lot of speed because it's the safest way to improve the lap time. On the straight you can earn some tenths without taking risks like in a corner."

The Italian said he especially appreciates the reliability factor after having spent his early MotoGP seasons on some 'troublesome' machines before joining Ducati.

"My first years in MotoGP were with CRT [superbike-powered] bikes and sometimes in the first three years of my career I was really scared about the reliability of the bike, the engine, everything!

"With Ducati you always know the MotoGP bikes will work in the right way because we do a lot of hours of testing, especially for the reliability.

"But our engine oil must resist a really high temperature, high RPM, the desmo valve system has many parts, so it's quite difficult to manage. For that reason, I think Shell is one of Ducati's longest partners."

Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, added: "The historical partnership between Shell and Ducati has been important in propelling Ducati to new levels of success over the last 20 years.

"Shell’s race formulations of Shell Advance and Shell V-Power have been essential in maximising the continued performance and efficiency of our Ducati engine.

"The technical partnership is also key in providing high quality products to our customers on the road, with Shell Advance and Shell V-Power enabling bikers across the globe to benefit from reliable and extensively tested oil and fuel formulations.

"We’re glad to see the partnership extended in order to continue one of the strongest relationships in motorcycle racing history as well as a strong collaboration on our road bike development."

Vicky Boiten-Lee, General Manager - Lubricants Marketing at Shell, said: “Shell is excited to renew this historical relationship for another three years. The renewal of this Technical Partnership with Ducati will be invaluable to the continued innovation and development of Shell Advance and Shell V-Power, using our learnings from the racetrack and providing them to bikers all over the world through our high performing and efficient products.

"This deal represents a clear commitment from Shell to Ducati and the Moto GP and World Superbike Series moving forward. We are proud to contribute to Ducati’s continued success, and look forward to celebrating many more race wins by their side.”