After a four-year absence, the return of World Ducati Week (WDW) in 2022 was always going to be one to savour – and the July 22-24 event certainly didn’t disappoint.
Back at its spiritual home, the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Rimini, WDW attracted around 80,0000 visitors over the three days from 84 different countries. A total of 235 Ducati clubs also participated.
The centrepiece of the on-track action was the Lenovo Race of Champions starring 21 Ducati riders (including Aussies Jack Miller and Oli Bayliss) competing in the three main road racing world championship classes – MotoGP, Superbike and Supersport – on a mix of Panigale V4 S and Panigale V2 machines in standard trim, apart from slicks and racing exhausts.
Pecco Bagnaia was the winner ahead of fellow MotoGP campaigners Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi – while Miller entertained the crowd with some monster wheelies!
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Another major highlight was the Ducatisti parade, which was led by company boss Claudio Domenicali as it snaked its way from Misano and along the coast to Riccione for a massive beach party.
Interspersed with the headline-grabbing events were thousands of laps covered by participants around the grand prix layout, hundreds of simulator rides, autograph sessions, dozens of Ducati keynote addresses, live paddock shows – even a wedding!
“At World Ducati Week we can experience the celebration of Ducati's deepest soul: we do not merely sell motorcycles but we design experiences and emotions with bikes at the centre for our fans,” said Domenicali.
“We all wanted to go back to being together with the Ducatisti and they arrived in massive numbers, as usual, from all over the world, even though we are still in the presence of travel restrictions.
“Once again, we were able to touch the great passion for Ducati and the desire to meet again, the happiness of the Ducatisti to be with us in Misano, the courtesy and kindness of everyone.
“I want to thank all the participants but also all the staff made up mainly of Ducati employees who, as usual, were present in great strength and worked hard to make this incredible experience possible.”