Ferrari and Ducati embarrass Italians

Unashamed UK Tory tabloid the Daily Mail has taken it upon itself to suggest that Ferrari's new 458 model is jinxed as reports of several crashes involving the car have hit the news.

My theory is that it just proves that there are a lot of people out there with more money than driving skill.

The Daily Mail says there's no technical fault to report - one wonders how they would know - and that several cars have just burst into flames for no apparent reason. Well it must be a poltergeist then, musn't it?

However, in Milan, where I'm writing this, the so-called Ferrari jinx hasn't made as much news among locals as the story about Ducati leaving Superbike racing so that they can concentrate on Moto GP, having Valentino Rossi as a new recruit (how much did he cost?) and developing new products.

Many Italians are embarrassed by the defection from Superbikes, as my Via Caducci barrista observes: "Superbikes were designed for Ducati, they even let us run with larger bikes than anyone else. And now, finito!"

Ever colourful, Claudio adds that Ferrari also gets a helping hand, and that he hopes that Alonso gets a penalty for his team orders incident where Massa was asked to make way for him.

"Anyway," he says, "I hope your Mark Webber will win today, he is like an Italian." (Claudio obviously thinks that New Zealand is contiguous with Australia.) Ah, well!

Follow Dave Moore on Twitter - @mooretothepoint

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forza jimmy   #1   09:37 am Aug 30 2010

Gutted to see Ducati leave super bikes seeing they have such a presence in the sport. Awesome that the Dr will ride for Ducati next year but I hope it doesn’t come at the cost of other riders jobs and the development of young riders! Also being a huge Ferrari fan all the hype is part and parcel of the brand. Old rich guys and fast cars with young models next to them is a recipe for disaster - who wouldn’t be distracted.......

Sam   #2   11:47 am Aug 30 2010

"However, in Milan, where I'm writing this"

My heart bleeds for you. I bet you can't wait to leave the rough backwoods of Italy for the sophisticated chic of New Zealand......

Moot   #3   01:19 pm Aug 30 2010

Disappointing indeed with Ducati pulling out of WSB. Their entire modern production career was based on the WSB, and now Finito. I would rather see them pulling out of MotoGP than WSB.

ben   #4   03:23 pm Aug 30 2010

if i owned a ferrari i certainly wouldnt be embarrassed!

Will   #5   11:31 pm Aug 31 2010

458's are embarassing.

Surely the FXX is the only Ferrari worth bragging about? $2.5 million (US$!) and you can't even keep it at your house - it has to stay at Ferrari!

Arthur   #6   10:49 am Oct 06 2010

Ferraris are just realising how embarrasing they are and commiting suicide. Too bad the owners may be inside, or is it?

Jim   #7   09:24 am Oct 07 2010

I'm not surprised that Italians are embarrased by Ducati given that the whole Superbike formula was designed to hand championships to Ducati on a plate. Then they pulled out! From a race series with "Let Ducati Cheat" written into the rules!

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