Rahal Ducati Moto enters the 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport series with a familiar face at the helm.
In the fast-paced world of motorsports, it’s not every day that we witness the union of iconic names. Enter the Rahal Ducati Moto, an audacious venture that promises to inject fresh enthusiasm into the 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport series. This new team, presented at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA, by the legendary father and son Bobby and Graham Rahal, will field two riders competing on the XPEL-sponsored Ducati Panigale V2s.
While Graham Rahal is no stranger to the roar of engines, his journey until now has been firmly rooted in the world of auto racing. Rahal Ducati Moto not only marks Graham’s debut in the two-wheeled racing arena but also sees him team up with his father, Bobby Rahal, the esteemed 1986 Indy 500 and three-time INDYCAR champion.
“This has been a long time coming and something I have wanted to do since we got the Ducati brands. Having a couple of those stores now has been great and we want to continue to build our relationship. There is no better way to do that than through the racing program and I am excited to get going. None of this would be possible without XPEL, a brand that I have a long-term relationship with through Rahal Paint Protection and I’m eager to see what we can do as a group in the MotoAmerica series. The series has been experiencing impressive growth in recent years and I’m excited to be part of it.” – Graham Rahal.
The team will announce the actual riders for the Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2s later. Meanwhile, XPEL, renowned for its protective films and coatings, will sponsor the team, further fortifying its relationship with the Rahal Paint Protection and the Bobby Rahal Automotive Group.
The team has enlisted the expertise of Ben Spies, a five-time AMA Champion and 2009 World Superbike Champion, as the team principal. The stage for the 2024 season is being set at Rahal Ducati Indianapolis, but plans are in motion to shift base to the upcoming GR Brands headquarters in Zionsville, Indiana.
“I’m super excited about the project. I was approached a couple of months ago and asked if I wanted to be part of it to put my knowledge to use to help with the team and the riders and it was a no-brainer for me. Between bringing the Rahal name into the sport and partnering with Ducati, who is doing a great job globally, I think this is the perfect time for them to join forces and come into the series. The last two-to-three years have seen a pretty big uptick for MotoAmerica with the fans so there is a bit of a resurgence going on. The Rahals are coming in right now and will probably pull one or two other companies in to start a team and I look at that as a really good thing. I’m just excited to be back in the paddock and use some of my knowledge to help the team and definitely help the riders on the weekends with strategy and all of that. I’m looking forward to it.” – Ben Spies.
The two bikes will sport the race numbers 15 and 19, giving propers nods to both Ben Spies and Graham Rahal.
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