Ducati has become the first MotoGP team to reveal what its 2019 challenger will look like at a livery launch in Switzerland on Friday evening.
The 2018 season runner-ups enter the new season with a revised line-up, as former factory-backed Pramac rider Danilo Petrucci steps up to the works effort to replace the Honda-bound Jorge Lorenzo alongside Andrea Dovizioso.
Unveiling its new livery on a year-old Desmosedici, the 2019 Ducati is now predominantly red, though with more prominent branding from tobacco giant Philip Morris in the form of Mission Winnow decals, similar to those seen on Ferrari's Formula 1 car last year.
It was also announced the Italian marque's parent company Audi Sport will become a main sponsor this year, while the team itself has been rebranded as Mission Winnow Ducati.
Dovizioso, who once again finished second to Marc Marquez in 2018, said of his 2019 prospects: “It's difficult to win, but in the last two years we finished second with a really nice season. Two completely different seasons.
“Two years ago we fight to the last round, last year unfortunately not. But in the end, I'm really happy about last year because it was a bit up and down.
“I did some mistakes, this is important experience to make something better this year. But I think we understood a lot of things from Brno to Valencia, we did a lot of points, we fought almost every race for the victory.
“So really happy about the bike, about all the engineers inside Ducati. So I feel really good, really comfortable, and I think we can fight for the championship.”
Petrucci added: “I was already excited in Valencia the first time we went out from the pit, my heart was beating quite strong.
“But I feel good, I feel – not relaxed – but confident and focused because I have a quite clear mind because I've been doing my work this winter, and I'm really looking forward to getting to Sepang [for testing] because last year was not a good race, but I think Andrea and me can do a very good work together.
“I can only learn from him, and hope to give him some help this year.”
Ducati Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti commented: "I think we have a very well balance team, a very competitive team with two riders who are very fast but can also work together.
"So I think this is the best set-up to achieve the best possible result, which is to fight for the world championship. And if this bike is as fast as it looks great, I think it's going to be a great season."
General Manager Luigi Dall'Igna confirmed the final version of the GP19's aerodynamic fairing, as has been the case over the past few years, will debut at the final test in Qatar at the end of February.
