Import brings big boost to service dept.

For Motorcycle Mall, there’s no place like Italy when in need of a Ducati Master Tech

When Motorcycle Mall of Belleville, N.J., kept coming up empty-handed while searching for a Ducati Master Technician, the dealership went straight to the horse’s mouth, so to speak, to find their man.

That’s right, Motorcycle Mall imported Master Tech Emanuel Pellizzari from Ducati’s Italian homeland. To top it off, Pellizzari has experience with race teams, and he’s worked in motorcycle dealerships in Italy and France, including a stint as service department manager.

It’s easy to see that Motorcycle Mall owner John Resciniti has been pleased with the find. And the fact that Pellizzari can also tout his wrenching experience aboard World Superbike teams? That’s even more reason for Motorcycle Mall customers to come calling.

A fruitless search

After Motorcycle Mall assistant general manager Rich Gonnello began placing employment classified ads for a Ducati Master Tech in various local and national outlets, the prospects were minimal. Non-existent, in fact.

“We were behind the 8-ball in terms of the service department when we acquired the local Ducati franchise, and we needed someone who get us going in the right direction,” Gonnello said. “We literally could not find a Ducati Master Tech, and after a month or two of getting the franchise, we said ‘OK, how are we going to do service work?’”

Meanwhile, Pellizzari had grown forlorn with the service technician marketplace in Europe, and had started a job search of his own. That’s when he landed on Motorcycle Mall’s website and learned of the store’s need for a Ducati Master Tech.

Pellizzari, 35, emailed his resume instantly, touting 18 years of service department technician and management experience. He connected with Gonnello, accepted the gig and began preparing for his big move.

“He was searching. We were searching. We kind of hit each other on the head and said ‘Can we do this? Can we make this happen?” Gonnello added.

Securing a temporary work visa became his next mission, which was successful. In May, Pellizzari deplaned from his flight over the Atlantic and drove straight to the dealership to begin his new career. After all, it’s where he’s most comfortable, and recent jobs had landed him at Ducati Toulouse in France and Ducati Rome.

Pellizzari is a Ducatisti through and through, having worked at NCR Racing headquarters in Bologna. It was there that he worked on the Ducati 998 race bikes that won SBK championships. In 2012, he worked on SBK racer Niccolo Canepa’s Ducati 1198RS.

And he brought tech certification in hand from Italian brands Aprilia and Moto Guzzi, which are sold at Motorcycle Mall as part of a lineup that includes Can-Am, Honda, Kawasaki, KYMCO, Piaggio, Polaris, Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Star Motorcycles, Suzuki, Vespa, Victory and Yamaha.

And with 10 years on the dyno, Pellizzari’s custom mapping abilities reach a variety of enthusiasts.

Crazy output

Gonnello still has to pinch himself sometimes when he realizes what his trophy import has added to the dealership’s service department.

“In the time that Emanuel has been here, from let’s say mid-June through [mid-November], he has completed 35 percent of the entire Motorcycle Mall service business, and that includes eight technicians,” Gonnello said. “It’s an amazing amount for one person.”

It’s easy to figure that Pellizzari has chalked up about 2.5 times the completion rate as other top techs at the dealership, and three times more than those in the second tier.

“He also teaches and mentors all of our new and junior technicians, and trains them through our apprentice program on a regular basis,” Gonnello said. “I mean, the guy has worked as a lead mechanic on world renown race teams for international racing series, with NCR Racing and Red Devils Roma Racing, and for the SS Lazio Motorsport in the SuperStock 1000 race series. It’s the best of the best — riders and mechanics.”

Where a typical tech might bill 70-80 hours per week, Pellizzari is closer to 120 to 150 hours per week.

“In 40 years of doing business, the ownership here has never seen someone like him. He works very fast,” Gonnello said.

So fast that Motorcycle Mall ended 2014 by trying to secure a 0-1 nonimmigrant work visa “for the individual who possesses extraordinary ability” in an area such as business.

“I own three Ducatis, and service is the most important thing for anyone who owns one. You could see someone saying, ‘OK, you guys might be an established dealership, and that’s great, but I need an established tech to work on my Ducati,’” Gonnello said. “Why wouldn’t you want your bike dyno-ed or worked on by this new tech we have? Desmo groups are hearing about him, and calling us up to ask if Emmanuel can work on their bike.”

He’s been known to work on up to 15 bikes per day, so the short answer, is “Yes, Emmanuel will be glad to help you.”