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PAOLA CAZZOLA ON LORIS CAPIROSSI'S DESMOSEDICI
A Desmowoman riding a dream!

 Every time I saw the MotoGP speed by I asked myself: what would I feel riding twisting the throttle on a bike like that?” I bet that all motorcycle fans have fantasised like me, imagining themselves on the back of one of those beasts, challenging the laws of physics, pretending to be one of the riders that give us MotoGP spectators so many thrills during their races. I used to say to myself: “will this always remain just a dream?”

Then one day, my phone rang - it was Filippo Falsaperla from the Gazzetta dello Sport and he asked me to be a test rider on a Ducati Desmosedici - I couldn’t believe my ears! This time it wasn’t a dream… the fastest motorcycle in the world would soon be mine, even just for a few laps around the track!

I was to be the second woman ever to ride a motorcycle from the reigning class, the first to ever ride a Ducati Desmosedici! I was so honoured. Riding the D16 meant overcoming a personal challenge: I would be lying if I didn’t admit to having asked myself many times whether I would be able to handle such a powerful motorcycle.

Finally the day came around: Tuesday November 8th. The MotoGP Championship finished on the Valencia track and it was right there that I would have the chance to ride one of the reds of Borgo Panigale...

Let me tell you, the experience of opening up the gas on a Desmosedici was beyond my wildest dreams - it was such a thrill! I hardly have words to describe it. The revs build with an astounding speed and the D16 accelerating power left me dumbfounded. Don’t believe what you see - believe what you can do: the brakes take your breath away, the curves are precise and the aerodynamics are so amazing that you accelerate out of the curve without realising how fast you are really going.

When riding a bike like the D16 you need to be in complete control of the throttle - just a bit too much gas can have devastating consequences on your ride. Along the straight I got up to 292 km/h… in a race, Loris has gotten up to 315 km/h! When they give you a motorcycle that costs hundreds of thousands of Euro, you only have four laps and you have never ridden the track before, you have to be very careful in the curves but at least on the straight, you just have to give it your all!

The feelings I got riding a Ducati Desmosedici, the fastest motorcycle in the world, will remain in my memory for my whole life. Many thanks to all the people that made my dream come true. Too bad it was only four laps… well, if Ducati ever needs me again, I am always available!

Paola Cazzola