WDW 2024: All red
Before going, and given my status as a racing enthusiast, my attention was focused on the Saturday race between all the Ducati riders in the different speed categories (all MotoGP and WSBK). Now I realize that it is “one more activity” among the many that take place throughout the week and that focus on the entire spectrum of lovers and customers of the brand, although not exclusively.
The WDW 2024 is a motorcycling event that makes no distinction between riders of one brand or another, but it is impressive to see the Misano circuit parking lot lined with ninety-something percent Ducatis of all ages and conditions.
As soon as Thursday arrived, the first thing in our faces: the world presentation of the new Ducati Panigale V4, by Claudio Domenicali himself and the team in charge of developing the bike.
The next day I had a track outing scheduled with the Panigale V4. Foolishly, I thought it would be on the one presented the night before. I had to “settle” for the already previous Panigale V4S. Riding behind a rider who gives you a track according to your knowledge, I enjoyed the most exciting session of the year, about which you can see my comments in the video accompanying this news. As a preview I can tell you that, between the Panigale V4S and the heat, I exhausted myself.
Throughout the day I was able to wander around the paddock, admiring motorcycles and preparations, as well as meeting some truly unique characters. Pay special attention to the scheduled activities, as it is impossible to attend them all. I was struck by the “open-engine” competition between mechanics who roam around WDW 2024 and who get up on stage to see who can assemble and disassemble a clutch first.
Talks by great travellers such as Alicia Sornosa or Charly Sinewan, with whom I was able to chat at different times, exhibitions such as the one celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 916 (with Fogarty and Bayliss included) or the one on Ducati MotoGP or WSBK. All the riders of the brand were present, also to race, attending to fans who crowded in front of their boxes to get a selfie or a signature. Among them I include myself, of course. I went to the WDW with a Shoei Márquez Barcelona with the aim of getting Marc’s signature. Do you think I managed it? The answer, in the video.
I was also able to interview very interesting people, among whom I highlight Emilio Zamora, stuntman world-class, brand ambassador and all-round lovely person.
What I didn’t dare to do was to get on the two-seater electric Ducati MotoGP bike with Franco Battaini at the controls, an experience that was dared by both brave and reckless people in equal measure. I’m already old enough that I couldn’t stop myself from enjoying the event and the nightly parties that are interspersed, whether on the beach or on the track, for all the brand’s fans. One already knew the passion that Ducati fans feel, whether they are newbies or old-timers. Now, after attending WDW 2024, I understand it.
