Got tipped off this morning by a Ducati fan in Switzerland to this tasty bit from the Agenzia Giornalistica Italia [News In English]

DUCATI: 2006 YEAR OF TRANSITION, FALL IN TURNOVER PREDICTED (AGI) - Milan, March 2 - The Ducati Group is predicting that 2006 will be a year of transition, with a fall in sales, turnover, and an increase in losses. Thus stated Federico Minoli, chairman and managing director, today during the meeting with analysts organised by the stock market for those companies quoted on the Star sector. He said that 2005 saw a fall, 2006 will be a transitional year and 2007 with the launch of new models and the strategic plan, made possible by an 80 million euro capital increase due to new shareholders. Income for 2006 is expected to be 312 million euro, against 320 million in 2005. The net results, already in the red in 2005 (down 13 pct on 2004) will be down by another 3 pct in 2006. Sales will go from 34,500 in 2005 to 32,000 in 2006. The aim is reaching the 40 thousand motorcycles and a long term turnover of 400 million euro. “We are aiming at the American market, which in 2007 will be our prime market. In 2005 it accounted for 20.5 pct of sales and already in January-February sales are up 50 pct. (AGI)

021642 MAR 06

Obviously the interesting bit here is the quote being that’s attributed to Federico Minoli in which he says that in 2007 Ducati will come charging full-force into the American marketplace. I’d be some what surprised if former owners TPG hadn’t already acknowledged the power of the US market when they were running the company - especially since they are an American company in the first place - but regardless this has to be good news for US consumers. Perhaps this means renewed interest in the US dealership network, parts availability and the AMA racing series… Guess we’ll wait and see.