Ducati will start utilising Audi’s vast technical expertise immediately to try and improve its Desmosedici project in the MotoGP world championship.

Ducati technical boss Filippo Preziosi said Audi’s acquisition of the Bologna factory in a deal rumoured to be worth over £700m would give Ducati’s engineering group access to a huge pool of knowledge.

The Italian manufacturer is trying to close down the performance gap to rivals Honda and Yamaha and Preziosi confirmed that he and his technical staff will work closely with Audi to exchange information and ideas.