Italian model Elia Mirashi welcomes us to the 10th edition of World Ducati Week, the international gathering that brings the Ducati community together every two years, ended with a record turnout. WDW2018 engaged and excited tens of thousands of motorcyclists coming from all over the world, meeting at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” from 20 to 22 July to celebrate and share their enthusiasm for Ducati.

World Ducati Week 2018
By Jim Gianatsis and Elia Mirashi
photos by Jim Gianatsis, Ducati Communications Dept. - Click on any Photo to Enlarge it


The Adriatic Coast and Misano World Circuit, Italy, July 20-22nd 2018 - What better way for a hard core Ducatista to spend their summer vacation than attending the 10th edition of World Ducati week for 2018 at Misano Adriatico on the north east coast of Italy at the famous race circuit Marco Simoncelli. This was my 3rd visit to a World Ducati event weekend which normally takes place every 2 years, having last attended when the event was less well known back in 2004 and then in 2012 when it had really grown. Needless to say, this year's 2018 event was even bigger and offered up more activities and sights than you could handle during the expanded 3 day weekend. Making it even more enjoyable, i always fly in a few days early from my home in Los Angeles to Ducati's home in nearby Bologna, Italy, to tour the factory, its museum, its factory retail store for bikes and official apparel, and now a cool American 1960's diner restaurant named Cafe America with a full menu of American burgers, diner food classics and drinks.

To make this year's WDW2018 week even more exciting I wanted to have someone to share it with and make the pictures more fun, so I booked beautiful local Italian model Elia Mirashi to join me. It was cool to discover that Elia's boyfriend owned a Ducati, and that she worked at a local Rimini nightclub that is often frequented by famous riders including Valentino Rossi who she knows!

Ducati always brings out its top factory and support MotoGP and World Superbike riders which this year included MotoGP race winners Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso, superbike riders Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri, along with legendary retired riders included Casey Stoner and Troy Bayliss, to meet with fans and put on display races. On Friday the riders took to the track for a few exhibition laps on their race bikes. Then on Saturday they returned to the Misano track for a 12 lap race on the new production Panigale V4S Superbikes in the "Race of Champions".

The 10th edition of World Ducati Week, the international gathering that brings the Ducati community together every two years, ended with a record turnout. WDW2018 engaged and excited tens of thousands of motorcyclists coming from all over the world, meeting at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” from 20 to 22 July to celebrate and share their enthusiasm for Ducati.

 
An incredible number of people and lots of motorcycles made this unique celebration even greater. In three days there were 91,596 attendees (approximately 30,000 per day with 3-Day passes at the Misano World Circuit, exceeding the previous record of 81,000 attendees set in 2016 by 13%. The participants travelled to the Adriatic Riviera from five continents, representing 73 countries. While 60% of the riders were Italian, the remaining 40% are evidence of the power and appeal of the Ducati brand around the world. Of particular note were Ken Lu and Lv Fei, the two Chinese riders who rode their Multistrada 1200 Enduro from Xinjiang (China) to Bologna in only seven days. The journey across continents was an extraordinary undertaking which saw them travel 7,575 km through 10 countries to arrive at Misano Adriatico.

As you can see from her sun tan, Elia is a beach girl and loves spending her free days at the local Adriatica beaches. Here she shows off her Bay Watch" swimsuit while sitting on a lifeguard rescue boat.

The first evening of WDW on Friday the 20th, after the day;s activities at the track, we showered and changed at our hotel then headed to the beach in Rimini for the Friday night Ducati Scrambler party.

After our first day at the track, a stop at our hotel to clean up and change, Elia and i arrived at the Friday Night Scrambler Party held in down town Rimini on the Beach Walk. I'd estimate about 1500 WDW attendees arrived on their motorcycles and parked along the main beach front street which had been closed off to cars. The party was sponsored by Virgin Radio Italy with celebrity DJ Roco hosting the night's music.

Elia and I climbed aboard the Rimini beach front Ferris wheel for a better view of the action which showed all the Ducati motorcycles parked down the beach front street for about 6 blocks. In the distance the Adriatico beach stretches south from Rimini to Riccioni and Misano.

The Scrambler Beach party was supposedly to include a complimentary "Rusticate" seafood dinner for WDW2018 attendees and the local Rimini citizens, but I don't think the locals were really told about it as i didn't see any, and the attendees were being charged for something.

Happily for us, Elia and I snuck into the back entrance of the a nearby crowded beach side restaurant by accident and came across a hidden patio out back on the beach, where our Ducati Media and Guest credentials scored us free dinner and drinks all night long.

And on the beach behind the restaurant were eight of these large lighted beach tents without any signage or Ducati staff, but it seemed they were placed their for attendees to unwind inside after a log day. Elia and i choose to stay outside and enjoy the stars and other boardwalk activities. The next day, Saturday, would be another long day at at the Misano circuit.

 
An incredible number of people and lots of motorcycles made this unique celebration even greater. In three days there were 91,596 attendees (approximately 30,000 per day with 3-Day passes at the Misano World Circuit, exceeding the previous record of 81,000 attendees set in 2016 by 13%. The participants travelled to the Adriatic Riviera from five continents, representing 73 countries. While 60% of the riders were Italian, the remaining 40% are evidence of the power and appeal of the Ducati brand around the world. Of particular note were Ken Lu and Lv Fei, the two Chinese riders who rode their Multistrada 1200 Enduro from Xinjiang (China) to Bologna in only seven days. The journey across continents was an extraordinary undertaking which saw them travel 7,575 km through 10 countries to arrive at Misano Adriatico.

Elia watches 30,000 Ducatistas lining up for autographs with Ducati MotoGP riders Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso. But In the 30 minutes allotted for the signing, maybe only 120 fans were successful in getting a signed rider poster.

 
Many activities and opportunities make WDW2018 a unique event. Meetings and autograph sessions with Ducati riders, riding courses and test rides of new motorcycles, taxi drives on the track with high performance Lamborghini, Audi and Seat cars, technical courses at Ducati University, performances by stunt men and laps on the track all take place. Many thematic areas, each with different activities and atmospheres, include the colorful "Land of Joy" of the Ducati Scrambler world, the Monster Village (celebrating the iconic bike's 25th anniversary), an area dedicated to the Panigale and the Multistrada Experience featuring Carlin Dunne's Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak, winner of Pikes Peak 2018 race.

The exclusive "preview room," prepared just for WDW2018 participants, also aroused great interest and long queues, giving visitors a preview of one of Ducati's new motorcycles for 2019. Unfortunately, we were just too busy with everyone else to ever make it inside.
 
The event surface area was impressive, including a total of about 90,000 square metres inside the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, 75,000 in the paddock and more than 15,000 dedicated to the off-road area and Ducati Scrambler Flat Race & School and DRE Safety.

 
Troy Bayliss dusts it up in Friday afternoon's Scrambler race.

Hanging out with Ducati CEO Claudio Claudio Domenicali and pretty Italian Girls and motorcycles!

 A Pierobon framed Generation 3 Ducati 999R features a Generation 5 style 1199 Panigale style side mount rear shock with linkage.

The Ducati Panigale V4S is already being race in the2018 Italian National Championship. Here is the Team Barni bike featuring a Termignoni full race exhaust system and a lighter Pierobon aluminum tube rear section .

Hanging in the Misano pits with Marco Melandri on Saturday before the start of the Race of Champions.

Misano hosted 30,000 Ducati fans per day over 3 days!

Twenty Ducati Panigale V4S Superbikes lined up in pit lane, ready for action. I got to my first track session with the new V4S on Friday morning and got to get in 6 hot laps at near race pace, despite it having been 5 years since i last rode the Misano circuit. The bike handled flawlessly, the brakes were heart stopping powerful, and the quick shifter was perfect. I immediately noticed the effect of theV4s new counter rotating crankshaft as I accelerated hard out of the turns at full throttle. My 1199 V2 Paniagle would want to wheelie and I have to modulate the throttle, but the V4 hunkers the front end down and you can keep the throttle pegged. My only disappointment, if at all, is the new the four cylinder is so smooth like a Japanese inline four, and loose the growling, vibrating, much beloved V-twin personality. But this will be an easier bike to ride and race in the long run. An even though it is heavier, you just don't notice it once the bike is moving.

Elia checks out the Ducati liveried Audi R8 in GT4 specification for European racing. Audi purchased Ducati four years ago and is financing both the Ducati Corse racing programs and new motorcycle development.

The sound of passion was everywhere at World Ducati Weekend 2018, from the race circuit at Misano Marco Simoncelli to the beach towns of Rimini, Riccioni and Misano Adriatica, the passion was jumping into the air!

When you're known by the company you keep...  Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi Dall'Igna and FastDates.com Calendar Kitten Elia on the starting grid at WDW2018 for the Race of Champions! 

One of the most exciting moments of this edition of WDW took place at 1 pm on Saturday, 21 July when the "Race of Champions" started, preceded by a spectacular fly over of the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team. The race featured 12 Ducati MotoGP and SBK Champions competing on the Misano circuit riding the Panigale V4 S, specially prepared with racing configuration and customized liveries. A show without equal that only Ducati could offer. A real race that was won by Michele Pirro, followed by Rabat, Forés, Miller, Melandri, Rinaldi, then Dovizioso, Siméon, Petrucci, Lorenzo, Abraham and Bayliss to complete the exceptional line-up of the "Race of Champions".

Above, Ducati CEO Claundio Domenicali congratulates Race of Champions winner Michele Pirro, runner up Tito Rabat from the Reale Avintia Racing MotoGP team, and Team Barni's Xavi Forés. The reigning Italian National Superbike Champion and newly added 3rd rider on the Ducati WSBK team, Pirro ran away away with the race.

Live coverage of the Ducati 2018 Race of Champions including Practice, the Starting Grid and the Race

Elia on the track with Race of Champions winner Michele Pirro.

Elia gets up close and personal with Marco Melandri's V4S before the start of the Race of Champions.

Ducati also decided to give to fans all over the world the chance to buy the 13 Panigale V4 S bikes from the "Race Of Champions" (including the one prepared for Chaz Davies, unable to participate due to an accident during training, and therefore replaced by Xavier Siméon) through a public auction on eBay. A dream that becomes reality for the fans of the brand starting at 6 pm on Saturday afternoon, an incredible number of bids being made on the motorcycles before the auctions ended on Saturday, July 28th

All thirteen Panigale V4 S bikes from the “Race of Champions” auctioned of on eBay
Troy Bayliss' bike sells for US $144,000!

• “Race of Champions” Panigale V4 S auction week marked by a crescendo of bids
• Record-breaking bid of 120,000 euro for Troy Bayliss' bike
• eBay auction followed by hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts

Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 2 August 2018 – The “Race of Champions”, which saw Ducati riders fight for victory on the Panigale V4 S, was one of the most thrilling moments of WDW2018. Immediately after the race the thirteen specially built bikes were auctioned on eBay, with ever-higher bids capturing the attention of media and enthusiasts alike until the auction closed at 6 p.m. on Saturday 28 July.
 
All thirteen Panigale V4 S bikes (the 12 used in the race plus the one prepared for Chaz Davies, injured on the eve of WDW and unable to compete) were auctioned.
 
The bikes feature exclusive livery and graphics dedicated to their individual riders, with colour schemes drawing their inspiration from the bikes used in MotoGP or SBK races. On each steering yoke, a badge shows the rider's name and race number. Each rider's indelible autograph on the tank, plus a certificate of authenticity signed by Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, and the rider himself, make every motorcycle even more valuable. To top things off, each bike comes with a series of special components used during the Race of Champions and a complete set of original parts, exhausts included, required for legal road use.

 
It was a hard-fought auction. Right from the start there was huge interest in Troy Bayliss' bike, which generated ever-higher bids that eventually reached the record-breaking figure of $120,000 euro. Dovizioso, Melandri, Lorenzo, Pirro(Race of Champions winner) and Petrucci's bikes were also in great demand, going for between 40,000 and 62,400 euro, with the bikes ridden by Miller, Davies, Rabat, Forés, Abraham, Rinaldi, and Siméon following in their wake.
 
The auction generated a total of 7.084 bids from all over the world, with some 1.516 people battling it out to option the thirteen bikes. The uniqueness of the event also aroused huge interest on social media: official Ducati profiles saw more than 7 million views between Instagram and Facebook.
 
The fondness and esteem that Ducatista still nurture for Troy Bayliss, a true Ducati icon, three-times winner of the World SBK Championship and recently (at the age of 49) winner of a SBK race in Australia on a Ducati Panigale, are impressive.

Troy Bayliss and Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali sign the Certificate of Authenticity for Troy's Panigale V4S to be auction off on ebay for an amazing US $144,000!.

Saturday night the music of Radio Deejay and the Street Clerks band provided an entertaining and engaging evening on the stage set up in Piazzale Roma in Riccione. Claudio Domenicali and the Ducati riders greeted all the Ducatisti, receiving in turn tributes of affection and esteem from the large audience. The stage was then left to Nina Zilli and her music, another gift for the participants of World Ducati Week and for the large audience in Riccione, all engaged in a weekend dedicated to “desmodromic sound".

We checked out the action at the Ducati Multistrada Enduro training course, and Elia got to go for her firt motorcle ride, beofe getting busted for not wearing enough protective gear. But the 90 degree heat discouraged us from having to get suited up again.
Notr the cool mountain bride in the background for practicing uphills and downhills on the otherwise flat Misano car parking field.

The Ducati Riding Experience (DRE) Enduro Instructor couldn't stay mad a Elia for very long.
 

Elia took 1s Place on our podium!

Elia with Feel Racing team owner Daniele Casolari who runs the Ducati Corse Superbike race team.

All Ducati employees were actively involved in planning the event, and during the weekend of the WDW, which this year included more than 250 people from the company (managers, engineers, technicians and employees) as part of the organizational staff.
 
Ducati was able to count on the collaboration of the Municipality of Misano, as well as the Municipalities of Rimini, Cattolica and Riccione, not to mention the government of the Republic of San Marino, which organized and supported the evening events. Last, but certainly not least given its key role, the Marco Simoncelli Misano World Circuit which has hosted all editions of the WDW right from the start.

Chaz Davies, currently 2nd in the World Superbike Championship behind Kawasaki's Jonathan Rae, suffered a mountain bike accident a week before WDW2018 and was sidelined with a broken collar bone. Elia does her best to console him.

Inside the awesome Ducati America Cafe, a 1960s theme dinner serving hamburgers, fries, milk shakes and American beers. The diner is located next to the Ducati factory retail store and dealership, just across the street from the factory in Bologna.

Inside the front lobby of the Ducati factory are spares of Andre Dovizioso GP18 and Chad Davies Panigale V2 1199RS Superbike facing each other down.

We will leave you with this parting shot from the Misano Adriatico where World Ducati Week 2018 is now a beautiful windswept memory. Thank you Ducati! Thank you Elia!