Ducati say that the eighth edition of their World Ducati Week (their international, biennial Ducati gathering) has been an "outstanding success" thrilling the "tens of thousands of motorcyclists" who filled the “Marco Simoncelli” Misano World Circuit, near Rimini on Italy's Adriatic coast from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 July.
The company say that some 65,000 people attended this year, equalling the record attendance set in 2012 when WDW was a 4-day event. Participants are said to have come from 56 different countries, with 40 percent of them from outside Italy, including visitors from as far away as the USA, Australia, Russia, India, China, Malaysia, Gabon, Iceland and Nepal.
Victory was claimed by Regis Laconi (former official Ducati SBK rider), with Matteo Baiocco (current Ducati SBK test rider) the runner-up. Third place went to Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), fourth to Michele Pirro (test rider for Ducati Team in MotoGP).
"It was an exhilarating competition" say Ducati, "placing pros of the highest calibre, past and present, head to head: Troy Bayliss, Carlos Checa, Andrea Iannone, Yonny Hernandez, Davide Giugliano and Chaz Davies together with “King” Carl Fogarty and Pierfrancesco Chili.
"Immediately after the race, in front of a crowd estimated to be over 10,000 strong, all the riders, plus key management - led by Ducati Motor Holding CEO, Claudio Domenicali, and Audi CEO, Rupert Stadler – saluted the public in an impressive ride-past.
"The final day of this eighth WDW saw thousands of Ducatisti and their bikes once again flood into the paddock of the “Marco Simoncelli” Misano World Circuit, all eager to enjoy their last day before heading home in the comforting knowledge that they’ll all be back together again in two years’ time for WDW2016.
"As expected, the Scrambler area was a huge success, arousing considerable interest. This gave enthusiasts attending WDW2014 an exclusive opportunity to enjoy a world premiere of the long-awaited Scrambler Ducati. This latest Ducati motorcycle, expected to arrive in stores early in 2015, attracted an uninterrupted procession of onlookers, with some Ducatisti waiting hours under the scorching sun to enter the famous “yellow container” and get a sneak preview (with a strictly no-photos, no-filming protocol) of the prototype.
"In addition to numerous events, the paddock area of the circuit also hosted a Superbike Celebration, a display of the bikes that have made Ducati history in the World Superbike Championship. There were stuntman shows, riding courses, a chance to road test the new Monster 821, and autograph sessions with Ducati Corse champions past and present.
In a 'nod' of recognition to Ducati's corporate status as a VAG subsidiary there were also on-track tests with the Audi R8 V10 and the new Lamborghini Huracán.
Ducati wish to recognise and thank their Official, Main and Technical Partners for their "outstanding support" - TUDOR, Termignoni, TIM, Pirelli, Bosch, Shell, Canon, Arai, Brembo, Cartorama, Dainese, Element Case, Garmin, Gates, Givi and Samauto.
