Both Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio, second and third respectively in the 2009 rider standings, are back on board and the Ducati Xerox Team, under the direction of new Project Manager Ernesto Marinelli, and strengthened by the arrival of two new track engineers in the shape of Marco Lozej and Luca Ferraccioli, is hungry to improve on last year's results. In a series that has traditionally been dominated by Australians, Americans and British riders, and despite the dominance of the Japanese and Italian machinery, there has still never been a Japanese or Italian rider crowned World Superbike champion!
Title sponsorship of the squad remains unchanged, with Ducati's agreement with Xerox in place until 2011, but there is a change to the team logo, in line with the launch of the new Ducati Corse logo in November.
In 2009, the Ducati Xerox Team took its sixteenth manufacturers title, thanks to the successes of both Noriyuki and Michel. In his first season with Borgo Panigale's factory squad, Noriyuki Haga took eight race wins including double wins at Valencia and Kyalami, and 19 podium finishes in all; he led the championship for most of the season and fought until the bitter end, but unfortunately lost out on the 2009 World Superbike riders title by just six points to Yamaha's Spies. At the end of his second season with the Ducati Xerox Team, Michel Fabrizio closed the championship in third position overall, with 382 points, having achieved three race wins at Monza, Imola and Portimao and a notable total of 15 podiums during the year.
