Ducati launch new bike in Italy

World champion Casey Stoner, alongside new teammate Marco Melandri unveiled the new bike during the press ski meeting at Madonna di Campiglio.

The two riders broke an ice sculpture to reveal the new bike in its 2008 livery.

"This is such a wonderful event," said Stoner. "I'm happy to be here although it meant celebrating my first wedding anniversary on a flight from Australia!

"I'm happy to begin a new season with the same bike and the same team, it's a first for me since I started to race. The feeling is just perfect with everyone at Ducati: Claudio, Filippo, Livio and all of my team, I wouldn't change a thing.

"As for my bike, I haven't suggested any big changes either, because we already had such a competitive package.

"We are only going to work on a few details. Winning a World Championship has taken a big weight off my shoulders: all my parents' sacrifices, all the hard times in the past, it's all behind me now.

"This year, I'll continue to work in order to try and repeat my performance of last year and be even stronger and faster, but I'll be able to do that in a very different spirit."

Melandri, joining the team from the Honda Gresini squad, was delighted during his first official appearance as a Ducati rider.

"I feel great in red," said the Italian. "I'm so happy to have become part of the Ducati family. I'd dreamt of riding a Ducati ever since I first saw one. When I tried on my new leathers yesterday, I felt quite emotional.

"I'm aware of the big opportunity I have been given this year. It's not going to be easy, but it will be exciting and I'm ready to commit entirely to reward all those who wanted me to be here. I'm really impressed with how people work at Ducati. Although they've already achieved the greatest goal, winning the world championship, they have continued to work relentlessly.

"After my first tests, I gave feed-back to the engineers so that my bike could be adjusted to match my requirements and now, I can't wait to hit the track again to train for this season. As soon as we manage to fine-tune the bike we'll be very competitive."