More than 65,000 people attended this month's World Ducati Week (WDW), the motorcycle manufacturer has announced.

Ducati enthusiasts from around the world travelled to Italy's World Misano Circuit for the event, which ran from Thursday June 21st to Sunday June 24th.

The attendance figures set a new record for WDW and Ducati said the four-day gathering "further highlighted the global power and appeal of the Ducati brand and the truly global passion for its motorcycles".

Eight Ducati race teams took part in the week's activities, while 11,520 laps of the Misano circuit were made by motorcycles and cars.

Company president Gabriele Del Torchio used the event as an opportunity to announce record sales figures for Ducati, with total sales up 12 per cent year on year in May 2012.

He also discussed the development of the firm over the last five years. Revenues have grown from €305 million (£243.8 million) in 2006 to €480 million in 2011, while the number of people employed by Ducati rose from 1,043 to 1,193 during the same period.

Mr Del Torchio commented: "Over these years we have developed the most exciting and innovative product range in our long history, launching no less than 17 new models.

"These include the Multistrada 1200 in 2010, the Diavel in 2011 and the most recent, the 1199 Panigale."

On the track, highlights of WDW 2012 included the Drag Race by Tudor on Saturday June 23rd.

Superbike stars such as Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Troy Bayliss and Carlos Checa took part in the friendly competition on Ducati Diavels, with Bayliss eventually taking the honours with a time of 6.306 seconds.

Later that day, WDW attendees were treated to a live performance by the Ducati All Stars – a band featuring former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan and Steve Jones of Sex Pistols fame.

If you're looking for cover for your motorbike, speak to the motorcycle insurance team at Performance Direct – one of the UK's leading specialist insurers.

Posted by Paul Durcan

Like What You’ve Read?

For more articles like this, receive our weekly e-newsletter, including partner deals and all things motoring, register your email below.

Please note: You cannot subscribe to Smart-Motoring unless you put a tick in the checkbox below to indicate have read and agreed to our privacy policy.

Leave a Reply