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My DREam - Kenny Rinaldoni - 3/4
Livio Lodi, a big Ducati fan, the museum curator and an endless fountain of Ducati information, told us all about the motorcycles on display. He told us about each bike as if he really tasted it, as if he were doing a wine tasting in a fancy wine cellar. It was wonderful talking and discussing Ducati with Livio, even if sometimes we have a difference of opinion. One whole wall of the museum was full of the shiny trophies that Ducati has won over the years and in a corner I noticed the shiny shovel that placed the first stone of the Ducati factory back on the 1st of June 1935. somewhere else (perhaps in the world Superbike!) When the tour was over and the rest of the visitors headed for the door I held back. Angelo, my boyfriend, and I stayed in the museum to chat a bit with Livio. As I knew would happen, the discussion turned to Angelo and how he had abandoned Borgo Panigale: he sold his Ducati 748 and bought a Japanese Superbike. Everyone makes his or her own decisions but I know that Angelo is still burning inside with love for his old bike. Livio had no sympathy and drowned him with guilt! At the end of the chat, the two shook hands and Livio bet Angelo that, by the end of the year, Angelo, an “ex-Ducatista” would come back home to Ducati. Before really leaving, I couldn’t help taking a couple more pictures – Loris’s Desmosedici (it was so amazing to see it in real life) and of course, Livio Lodi, in front of the Torpedo. somewhere else (perhaps in the world Superbike!) I left the factory feeling so happy and very excited about the upcoming day at DRE. In the parking lot I noticed that there was a reserved area for staff motorcycles, but not just any motorcycles… This parking lot was only for Ducati motorcycles! All of those Ducatis there – in line like a bunch of soldiers. All I wanted to do was jump on and take one for a ride. See, this is also a part of Ducati: TEMPTATION! somewhere else (perhaps in the world Superbike!) The next day was the day I had been waiting for! My day at DRE. I arrived at the Imola track and the red Ducati flags flying in the wind at the entrance immediately caught my eyes. There were already quite a few people there so, as soon as I parked the car, I headed directly to the registration area. Fortunately I had already downloaded the registrations forms from www.ducati.com so I was done in a flash. I picked up my DRE pass, a welcome kit and my rented riding suit and went to the women’s locker room to get ready. somewhere else (perhaps in the world Superbike!) This was the first time I had ever put on a full riding suit and I felt like a real determined rider. This wasn’t just any regular suit, this was a Ducati branded Dainese leather suit! I never could have imagined that my first try at real professional riding gear would be the top of the line like this! It was neat to see the other girls getting ready for DRE: for some it was the first time for everything. We all helped each other get ready. It was a world of new sensations for all of us – some noticed how tight the boots felt, others felt awkward moving in a full leather suit with all the protections…. I smiled and put on the rest of my gear that was really mine, the gear that accompanies me on all my new Monster adventures. Little by little, even the rented leather suit formed to my body and the back protection that at first felt so weird, seemed to disappear. I was ready to go! somewhere else (perhaps in the world Superbike!) We were all brought to the meeting room to learn about how the day would be structured and to meet the teachers. We broke up into groups and got started. The bikes in my group and for all the intermediate classes were the Monster S2R and Multistrada 1000. somewhere else (perhaps in the world Superbike!) There were six women in my group and one wonderful instructor, Luigi Pozza (Go Luigi!) Luigi was so patient with us and gave us such amazing riding hints. My grandfather always used to say “a motorcycle is like a slippery bar of soap” and it is up to us to know how to control it. Controlling a motorcycle starts with your head and then your body must follow through. somewhere else (perhaps in the world Superbike!) The intermediate course took place in the paddock, followed by an exciting half hour ride on the rack. In the paddock there were six small tracks created by cones that set out the classic situations you can come across when riding a motorcycle such as: emergency braking, how to avoid an obstacle, different kinds of curves, etc. We were learning to be prepared so that out there on the road or track we won’t be faced with situations that we are not prepared for. Luigi would show us how to do an exercise and then, one by one (we had four bikes – two Monster and two Multistrada) we all had a chance to do our best. No one tried to show off, this wasn’t a race and no one was timing us. The teachers just wanted to correct our mistakes, improve our riding and help us feel more secure about our riding. We all came to DRE because we wanted to improve our riding skills – otherwise we would be somewhere else (perhaps in the world Superbike!) At the beginning my riding was a bit rigid but the Monster S2R is an amazing bike and after a little while, I felt as though I had been driving it forever. I really liked it and my attachment to the bike increased with every exercises. The Multistrada on the other hand, I avoided at all costs… It was just too tall for me. I was the smallest person in the group and if I get on a Multistrada, I can’t even touch the ground with my feet. Riding it would be risky. I told everyone the situation and, since I didn’t see any steps to walk up to the Multistrada, I thought that was that. Until… At the last paddock exercise I was waiting my turn and there was a Multistrada left without a rider. Luigi came up to me and said that he wanted to see me ride the Multistrada – just once – it didn’t matter how. He promised he would help me get started and he would be there when I had to brake - like a human kickstand. Federica Rinaldoni (continues) Read the second part Read the fourth part 
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