THE LEGEND RETURNS
22 December 2005 - Ducati UK Ltd

THE GRAND MOTOGIRO D’ ITALIA CHALLENGE BEGINS MAY 16, 2006

In 2006 the historic revival of Italy’s oldest motorcycle road race will take place from the 16th to the 20th of May, departing from Rimini travelling through Romagna, Marche, Abruzzo and Molise.

This spring, the Motogiro d’Italia, made up hundreds of old and new motorcycles, will cruse Italy from Romagna to Abruzzo. For the sixth consecutive year, the event is organized by Dream Engine and is supported by the main sponsor, Ducati Motor. Since 2001, Ducati Motor has sponsored the Motogiro, as an important event that brings back the glorious years of Italian motorcycling. The Motogiro is essential to riders and fans that are passionate about vintage motorcycles.

The Motogiro d’Italia is much more than a simple event for vintage motorcycles: it recreates the electrical atmosphere, the team spirit and the adventure that were present in the original race. This event hosts the most renowned Italian and foreign collectors with their most prized vintage bikes and also offers its participants the opportunity to appreciate the wonders of Italian tourism as well s the beauty of the land and its products.

In order to keep history alive, the champions of the Motogiro in the 1950s - Maoggi, Venturi, Tartarini, Mendogni - have returned to the event as guests of honour. The race takes place on the same Italian roads where it was once possible to watch the best of Italian motorcycles battling to the finish: Ducati, Morini, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Benelli, Bianchi, Piaggio, Gilera, Motobi.

Interest and enthusiasm in the Motogiro has been constantly rising: from the 120 participants in 2001, the Motogiro now attracts more than 400 participants from all over the world.

The 2006 Motogiro will depart directly from Romagna, famous for its motorcycling, and will then ride day by day (approximately 250 km each leg) to Abruzzo and Molise. Here is the preliminary itinerary:

15th May 2006: preliminary operations at Rimini.
16th May 2006, leg 1: Rimini-Ancona
17th May 2006, leg 2: Ancona-Ascoli Piceno
18th May 2006, leg 3: Ascoli Piceno-Ascoli Piceno
19th May 2006, leg 4: Ascoli Piceno-Ancona
20th May 2006, leg 5: Ancona-Rimini.

The route was designed to highlight the unique characteristics of vintage motorcycles; many routes are “daisy petals” meaning that they depart and arrive in the same city. Detailed research has designed spectacular routes with great views and especially interesting locations along coast and inland. Riders will find numerous rest points along each route, thanks to the collaboration of local agencies and motoclubs and at the end of each leg, riders will be welcomed at the Motogiro Village set up in the city of arrival.

The “Gran Finale” for 2006 will invite participants to be guests of the Municipality of Rimini for the prize giving dinner. At this dinner, the overall winner of the Vintage Class will be awarded a special Motogiro 2006 Ducati.

The Motogiro d’Italia 2006 relies on the support provided by Ducati Motor, the event’s main sponsor. The event is also made possible thanks to the support of: Shell, Marzocchi, Motociclismo d''Epoca, Iveco, Province of Rimini, Municipality of Rimini, Province of Ancona, Municipality of Ancona, Municipality of Ascoli Piceno, Umani Ronchi. The event organization is assisted by the Federazione Motociclistica Italiana, for the technical support Motoclub Terni “L. Liberati”. Participants in the Touring Class will be accompanied by FMI (Italian Motorcycle Federation) Federal Safe Riding instructors from the Curve&Tornanti team.

The Motogiro is open to motorcycles authorized for road use of all marques and is divided into three classes:

Vintage Racing Class.
With an overall limit of 120 participants, this class features motorbikes of up to 175cc manufactured prior to 1957 inspired on the motorcycles that raced in the original Motogiro. Competitors in the Vintage Racing Class ware subject to timed, competitive ability tests en-route.

Taglioni Memorial Class.
This class is open to street legal motorcycles of all marques, 250 cc or higher, produced between 1968 and 1978, period which highlights the decade where the Ducati engineer Fabio Taglioni created his legendary 2 cylinder motorcycles. Competitors in this class take part in ability trials and the winner will take home a special prize.

Touring Class.
This class has been designed for riders of newer bikes, who wish to participate in the excitement of the Motogiro on a more relaxed, non-competitive basis. The touring class is open to all marques of motorcycles.

www.motogiroditalia.com

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