Filippo Preziosi

One of the main factors in Ducati's racing success between 1994 and 2012, and arguably one of the greatest engineers in the MotoGP paddock was Filippo Preziosi, who rose to the position of Ducati Corse General Manager.

Born and raised in Perugia, Filippo graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Bologna, before joining Ducati in 1994.

Coordinating a small group of people, he designed, starting from the Ducati 916 road bike, the racing version destined for the Superbike World Championship and then went on to develop the 996 and 998 motorcycles and Testastretta racing engines.

In 1999, he became Ducati Corse Technical Director, overseeing design and development work on the 999 motorcycle and engine for the Superbike World Championship and on the Desmosedici prototype for the MotoGP championship.

He continued his career despite a serious motorcycle accident during a trip to Africa in 2000, and in 2003 became General Manager of Ducati Corse. Under his technical guidance, the Bologna-based company won the MotoGP Riders’ and Constructors’ titles in 2007 with Casey Stoner, 33 years after the previous success of an Italian brand in the premier class of world championship motorcycle racing.

In these years, Preziosi was the driving force behind Ducati's engineering innovations in MotoGP, including the decision to replace its trademark steel trellis frame with a carbon fibre monocoque, and the switch from screamer to big bang engines.

In 2012, he moved to the role of Research & Development Director of Ducati Motor Holding, but the following year announced his resignation from the Borgo Panigale company for health reasons.