Rosso Invasion
In keeping with the marque’s biennial tradition, the World Ducati Week (WDW) was held in Italy last month. Bike India was among those present. Here’s what went down
THE WORLD Ducati Week is held every year at the Marco Simoncelli Misano world circuit. The event is open to bikers from all over the world and also happens to be the largest gathering of Ducati owners and motorcycles. This year Ducati are celebrating their 90th anniversary and Bike India was invited to be part of the celebration.
The four-day visit started with a tour of the Ducati factory and the refurbished museum in Bologna. After the factory visit we drove down to Rimini on the Adriatic coast.
The WDW was kick-started on Friday morning with thousands of Ducati owners queuing up to enter the Marco Simoncelli Misano world circuit. The WDW is a gala festival of motorcycling where Ducati-owners converge from across the globe to share their brotherhood. When you buy a Ducati, you don’t just buy a motorcycle; you become a member of the Ducati family. At the weekend you, as the owner, get the opportunity to ride on the racetrack under the expert guidance of instructors from Ducati
This year they offered us a preview of an all-new sports tourer with a 937-cc engine in a trellis frame with a single-side swingarm
Riding Experience (DRE). This year they also organised flat-track and Enduro riding experience. The festival has a lot happening from air-brush painting to a gathering of Ducati Clubs from all over the globe.
The owners get a chance to meet and rub shoulders with senior Ducati management as well as MotoGP and World Superbike riders. Then there are the legends and champions from the past. This year the WDW was graced by the presence of Andrea Dovizioso,
Andrea Iannone, Casey Stoner, Troy Bayliss, and Scott Redding, to name but a few. A few lucky owners were taken for a pillion-ride around the Misano circuit by Troy Bayliss. The stunt show by the Ducati stunt team astride bikes such as the 1299 Panigale and Diavel was simply breathtaking. The icing on the cake for the Ducati family members is that senior management of the company rustles up a barbeque for them.
In 2014 Ducati had unveiled the Scrambler in a secret showing. Similarly, this year they offered us a preview of an all-new sports tourer with a 937-cc engine in a trellis frame with a single-side swingarm. Ducati CEO Claudio Dominicali along with Casey Stoner unveiled the 90th anniversary limited-addition 1299 Panigale on the occasion.
Paul Smart, the man who introduced the knee-out riding style and gave Ducati their first major victory at the Imola 200 international in 1972, was present at this year’s WDW with his better half, Maggie. Incidentally, Maggie is the elder sister of the legendary British rider, Barry Sheene.
Throughout the day one could hear the constant rumble of the L-twin engines. All in all, this event is a must for all Ducati-owners.