New Panigale 'something amazing' raves Giugliano

Factory Ducati rider Davide Giugliano was raving over the 1199 Panigale as the Italian star joined Chaz Davies to unveil the 2014 machines at Bologna in Italy this morning.

Giugliano is itching for the World Superbike Championship opener at Phillip Island in Australia on February 23 and the 24-year-old says he is already more than prepared for the season curtain-raiser.

"My new Panigale is something amazing, a bike that immediately feels like mine and with which I'm immediately in tune.

"I'm very pleased with how the bike is developing and so this is already very positive," said Giugliano.

"Chaz is undoubtedly a great rider, a great talent and this season he will surely be one of my toughest rivals but I know that we'll work together and will encourage each other to always do our best.

"We also owe it to the fans of course, as we want everybody who has always followed and supported Ducati to have fun and enjoy the results.

"I'm more than ready to get going and can't wait to start the championship."

Ducati has teamed up with Feel Racing for a factory-backed assault on the championship this year and team manager, Serafino Foti, has outlined his objective of reinstating the manufacturer as a leading title contender once more.

"We will learn more about our level of competitiveness in about a month's time in Australia but the important thing is to have faith in the bikes and to know that we have given our all throughout this first phase," he said.

"Another important thing is not to lose focus during the season, as this will undoubtedly be a very difficult championship of the highest level.

"The goal is to give the Ducati fans the kind of excitement that they experienced in the past - we will give it our all," added Foti.

"I think that Chaz and Davide have a characteristic in common, in that neither of them has yet reached the apex of his career, so this gives them both great motivation."