French authorities won’t allow the factory MotoGP Ducati team to feature the Mission Winnow logo on the fairings of the Desmosedici.
Back in March we first told you that Ducati could have problems with their new sponsor Mission Winnow. Authorities in Italy saw Mission Winnow as a promoter for tobacco giant company Phillip Morris. Now, Ducati is facing the first Grand Prix where they won’t be able to use the Mission Winnow logo.
In France, the laws against tobacco sponsorships in motorsport are stricter than usual. Ducati thought they could keep their image as we know it from the start of the MotoGP season, but for the first time, they won’t be allowed to use Mission Winnow image on the bikes. For this reason, Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci will have to use a bike with a special livery.
According to a press release, Dovizioso and Petrucci will be responsible for designing the livery of the Desmosedici GP19. At the French GP at Le Mans, their bikes will feature a special custom logo. The fairings will also feature each rider name.
According to Phillip Morris, the tobacco giants won’t try to appeal against the French authority’s decision. Instead, Phillip Morris will accept, and in the next race in Italy, the Ducati bikes will get back the Mission Winnow logos.