Ducatis from all over the world got together on the 6th of May for the second edition of “We Ride As One”. This global event united all 159 international Ducati Official Clubs, and 334 Ducati dealerships (from more than 50 countries), which totalled 15,000 Ducatisti on the same day to share their passion for the Ducati brand.
Every year, Ducati hosts the World Ducati Week in Italy. After the lockdowns and travel restrictions were lifted, Ducati wanted to do something special before the 2022 World Ducati Week. That year saw the first running of the “We Ride As One” event. Following the success of that gathering, Ducati has decided to make this a fixed appointment on the calendar for the first Saturday in May.
This year, Ducati enthusiasts gathered at Ducati dealers around the world and it was up to each dealer and local Ducati Owners Clubs to decide on the format of the event. For example, in Rome, the plan was to ride through the historic centre of the city, and the parade was led by the Gresini Racing Team MotoGP rider, Fabio Di Giannantonio. In Kawasaki in Japan, the ride was to the Hakone Venetian Glass Museum, where they enjoyed lunch and a view of Mount Fuji.
Here in South Africa, Ducatis congregated at the Ducati store in Pretoria, and another group in Cape Town. The Pretoria group was represented by 68 Ducatis and the line-up included a wide variety of models. From a 1978 900 Supersport to the latest DesertX.
As the bikes started rolling in, I had a chat with a young gentleman who does not own a Ducati yet, but his knowledge of the brand was phenomenal. He knew the models off by heart, and when asked which one was his favourite, it was a split between the Panigale V2 and the V4. Suffice it to say, there will be a Ducati in his garage one day, and it will probably be a Panigale.
After the rider briefing, we set off to Fort Klapperkop to get the city as a backdrop for our group photo. We had to go through the suburbs to get there, and the sound of 68 Ducatis was quite something. After our photo opportunity, a smaller group rode to Harties for a late lunch. The Cape Town contingent also managed almost 60 bikes.
As with all these events, they grow year by year, and next year Ducati South Africa is aiming to make it even bigger. So keep an eye on the social media side of Ducati.
