According to the Italian newspaper Corriere di Bologna, Audi have submitted an offer of €750m (£630m) to buy Ducati and bring it into the Volkswagen fold as the firm tries to sell its stake in Suzuki.

The German car giant has put the bid to Investindustrial, the private equity firm which controls about three-quarters of the legendary bike manufacturer since a takeover in 2008 and is looking to double its money - as is a private equity firm's raison d'etre.

The Bologna firm sells 40,000 bikes a year and made £71m in 2010 which puts a value on the company in excess of £500m.