Business – Pierre Terblanche will no longer design Ducati … – Used DUCATI

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Pierre Terblanche will no longer design Ducati…

Business - Pierre Terblanche will no longer design Ducati ... - Used DUCATI

South African Pierre Terblanche, director of conception and design at Ducati since 1997, has just stepped down. He left his mark on the creation and development of several flagship models of the Bologna brand.. Memories.

Director of conception and design for the Bologna brand since 1997, Pierre Terblanche left his mark on the creation and development of several flagship models at Ducati. Sometimes elevated to the rank of genius, sometimes disparaged, the South African has just left office.

For nearly 20 years, the illustrious designer has worked to create the most striking models of Italian production: an exemplary longevity given the importance of the stroke of the pencil in the success of a transalpine machine, because if the Japanese manufacturers rely above all on efficiency and the contribution of new technologies, an Italian motorcycle must first be sculptural and desirable, even if it means making concessions in terms of efficiency !

The Italian school is a must in this area, appreciated and recognized by all, with the same deference as for Ferraris and other Lamborghinis. And it was through automotive design that Pierre Terblanche began his career: in advertising for the Ford group, then, following his master’s degree in design at the Royal College of Art in London, for the Volkswagen group..

In 1989, the talented designer marries the world of two-wheelers: joining the ranks of Ducati (then owned by the Castiglioni brothers, managers of the Cagiva brand), he collaborates with the brilliant Massimo Tamburini, the author of the 916, a charismatic motorcycle. and a true icon of the Bologna brand.

From 1992, Terblanche evolves alone and develops the famous Ducati Supermono, then the Cagiva 900 Canyon. Following Cagiva’s financial problems in 1996, the Ducati brand was sold to the American investment fund Texas Pacific Group. On this occasion, Terblanche was appointed director of design and conception. He developed the Supersport 900, then in 1998 the surprising MHE 900 Evoluzione, which produced a real tidal wave of virtual controls. !

Riding the wave of success, Terblanche then decided to engage in more personal achievements, highlighting the ideas and avant-garde pencil stroke of the man: this is how the Multistrada was born in 2001, then the 999 in 2002.

If the "Multi" was a real revelation by sounding the renewal of Ducati lines and by posing as the pioneer of the genre, the model responsible for succeeding the 916, 996 and 998 had mixed success: the challenge was immense for the brand and for its progenitor, because Ducati’s sports machines have embodied, from the very first model, the successful combination of performance and driving fantasy…

Difficult indeed to pass after the illustrious Tamburini, considered by all tifosis as the "Michelangelo" of the sports machine. !

Thus, despite many successes in competition, the 999 is struggling to win the votes of its public: its two juxtaposed lenticular lenses and its more "round" line have not convinced its followers to pay almost 17,000 euros for the acquisition of the basic model. A "semi failure" all the more bitter for Ducati and Terblanche as the brand prides itself on listening to its customers … But Ducati’s wish is clear: despite all the strengths of the 999 (its 140 hp, its performance on tracks, etc.), many are still waiting for the worthy descendant of the 916…

Far from drying up Pierre Terblanche’s inspiration, the mixed reception of his Italian hypersport concept did not prevent him from creating the Sport Classic range in 2003: public reactions at the Tokyo Motor Show were such that Ducati decides to market the three machines within two years, then at the concept stage !

This is a real reward for the designer, who will mark the spirits one last time with the Hypermotard unveiled at the Milan show in 2005: once again, the design is to die for and the desire to ride with irrepressible !

Once again, Terblanche clears a whole new path for the brand, since the machine is the first of its kind within the Bologna firm..

Unfortunately for the designer, the demand for the renewal of the Superbike range remains so strong that Ducati decides to return to its roots: discarded from the new project, Pierre Terblanche has certainly suffered from the immeasurable reception of the brand’s new hypersport muse. … Unveiled at the Milan Motor Show in 2006, the 1098 was immediately voted the most beautiful motorcycle at the show, then Motorcycle of the Year 2007, Best Design and Best Sports Car by The Motorcycle Design Association and finally "Bike of the Year 2007 "by the SWA association (Supertest World Association) which brings together the European press…

Taking up the canons of the 916, its designer (the young Giandrea Fabbro) has skillfully resuscitated the Ducati sport spirit with harmonious, aggressive and modern lines..

Despite soothing statements from the leaders of the brand, the affront to Terblanche is real: therefore, the announcement of his resignation is not really surprising, even if we can not help but think that Ducati is losing a great talent…

Recently questioned by our English colleagues from MCN, this visionary man is already seeing his retraining: "i want to do new things i will make my own studio and even though i will still design motorcycles i would really like to work on other things maybe boats"…

So if by chance you come across during your next summer vacation a boat that vaguely reminds you of the style of the Multistrada or the 999, it may be the fruit of the boundless imagination of this great man of design. !

Alexandre BARDIN – Photos DR

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