Desmopro News

It’s hot here. No problem as long as you keep moving, and stay off the highways. We get up early and hit the back roads, today’s schedule is an easy one on roads made for enjoying – good pavement, gentle curves and light traffic with sunflower fields and ancient architecture to look at. I am riding along mentally house shopping – oh! look at that one! It’s perfect! One perfect house after another every few minutes.

 We are expected in Assisi and have been invited to park in the town center, in the shadow of a huge Botero sculpture. It’s high season here in Italy and the town is busy but the sound and sight of more than 50 Ducati’s pulling in to this peaceful place stops every one in their tracks....More here

We come from all over. We speak different languages. We share one passion. Ducati is all we have in common and it’s everything. The obvious purpose of the World Presidents Meeting is to give the people who wave the flag the highest, a chance to live the dream. Ride Ducati’s in Italy, eat the food, experience the history and see the red,white and green glow that is Italy and it’s people. But what we take home, besides these memories is friendships, alliances, respect and camaraderie, with Ducati staff and other clubs. We hear stories of the price some have paid for their love of the brand (one President, who lives in a country that has become increasingly dangerous, was shot 4 times by thieves trying to steal his Ducati. He drove himself to the hospital, and now rides in a bulletproof vest). Maybe it’s not all so dramatic but these are the people that drive a car to the meet, with tents and boxes, so others can ride. For us, there is no explanation needed why we do it, if you have to ask, well, you probably wouldn’t understand.

 Day two – Cattolica to Gubbio - Scooter crashes and swap meet scores

Today we are splitting from the group and heading straight to Gubbio, an ancient small town that boasts the second largest Roman amphitheater in existence. The ride over is perfect, no traffic, a relief after the non-stop traffic in Rimini, and the tunnels along the route are crisp and cool, the weather simply perfect, the temp in the low 80′s. A perfect morning ride.

We pass a scooter crash which seems to be providing the morning’s entertainment in the town, dog walkers and people strolling by are literally pulling up chairs to watch what looks to me to be a fairly harmless get off....More here