Ducati could be sold as owners cut 100,000 jobs amid financial crisis

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Ducati’s owners Volkswagen could consider selling the company in an attempt to repay some of their debts, according to a report.

Ducati are owned by Audi subsidiary Lamborghini, while Audi are part of the Volkswagen Group. VW’s cost-cutting is taking place several levels up the chain, but could affect the MotoGP team.

The Borgo Panigale brand have been competing in the premier class of Grand Prix racing since 2003 and have been almost ever-present in World Superbikes since the championship’s inception.

Volkswagen are being advised to sell Ducati

As reported by the Financial Times, Volkswagen plan to cut 100,000 jobs – effectively a sixth of their workforce. They will also close four factories.

Their share price has fallen by half in less than four years, so talk of selling assets, even a ‘crown jewel’ like Ducati, is inevitable.

Where does Marc Marquez/Pedro Acosta rank among the all-time great MotoGP line-ups?

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Financial advisers are hoping that ‘recent pitches’ to sell Ducati and/or Lamborghini will ‘gain traction’ within the company. However, ‘some analysts’ have told FT that the likelihood of such steps is low.

Ducati recently signed MotoGP’s new commercial agreement, a pledge to race in the sport until at least 2031. They have been the sport’s dominant team this decade, winning six straight constructors’ titles.

Since Fabio Quartararo’s 2021 triumph on the Yamaha, every MotoGP champion has ridden a Desmosedici motorcycle.

The Volkswagen story has echoes of the KTM saga last year. There were serious doubts about whether the Austrians would continue racing beyond 2026, but 49% shareholders Bajaj Auto stepped in to acquire a controlling stake and save the company.

Despite initial fears it would be sacrificed, Bajaj remain committed to KTM’s MotoGP project, hence their signature on the commercial agreement.

MotoGP teams are hoping and expecting to see a surge in revenues now that Formula 1 owners Liberty Media have acquired the sport. That relies, first and foremost, on attracting new fans, which has been Liberty’s speciality in the four-wheel world.