Ducati has put down a huge marker in the motorcycle industry. As the guys on 44 Teeth said after the V4R launch "Ducati just keeps coming out with these F'u motorcycles and telling every other manufacturer catch us if you can"
The bikes they are putting out are showing massive innovation in all areas. Even the Scrambler. They don't make cheap bikes. But they are hitting the mark with their audience. The Superbike consumer is getting older. The young kids (20's) they want hooligan/trick/wheelie type bikes. Ducati is selling bikes to financially established clientele. And hitting the mark IMHO.
The Corse program is crushing it because they are pushing the boundaries in every area of innovation on the bikes (same for Aprilla). Some of this tech is trickling into the Road bike range. All the while the Japanese Brands have sat stagnant and been way to conservative in innovation on the bikes. Dumping money into top rider salaries (Fabio, Marc, Frankie, Rea, Toprak) while they are amazing riders on the bike. They have reached the limits of the machine they are on. And the conservative development approach is hurting them.
It seems the table has turned. Ducati would throw money at a rider to mask the bikes deficiencies. Not any more! Now they develop fast riders and then the get on a fast highly developed bike. The FIM has super tight restrictions on testing time & homologation times. All designed to control costs. Does not seem to bother Ducati. I'm going to bet that Marc's salary is greater then Pecco, Enea, Martin & Zarco combined. And probably Fabio's as well.
