WDW2004 - Day 6
Check out the photogalleries: 1 - 2.
Saturday at WDW2004: the biggest, most thrilling day of them all here in Misano. Tens of thousands of fans have transformed the famous Santamonica circuit into a sea of Ducatis.
And of course, it's another perfect sunny day in Italy. At the Ducati Garage Challenge Tent, Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss were mobbed by hundreds of Custom-loving enthusiasts when they made the rounds of the Ducati Specials. Both MotoGP champions served on the Expert Jury and both racers were particularly impressed by the same bike. Troy said he chose the bike because it "represented the soul of a Ducati" while Loris selected the bike because it "had the clean and effortless beauty" he associates with the Italian brand. The winner was given a front fairing signed by Loris Capirossi, and the ever-gentlemanly Italian and Australian champions politely offered each other the opportunity to present the winner with the fairing until Troy finally said, "Well, it is your fairing Loris. Maybe you should be the one to give it away." Later, the Ducati.com staff awarded the specials that received the most votes from the public with "desmodromic" trophies created just for the occassion.
The Italian army Mangusta attack helicopter swooped up and down the track, as swarms of fans cheered above, and Superbikes roared on the track below. The afternoon saw the Ducati Auction of splendid pieces like Troy and Loris's signed scratched MotoGP tail pieces, with all proceeds going to Riders for Health and Clinica Mobile. The evening hosts some of the event's most spectacular events, from the stunning announcement by Ducati President and CEO Federico Minoli, who finally let tens of thousands of fans in on Ducati's mega-secret project - click here
for more on Ducati's shock announcement - to an overflight by the famed Stormo squadron in their F104 jet fighter, a massive BBQ, Italian style, where all the enthusiasts were served delicious grilled fish by top Ducati management, fireworks and a live concert by Italian singing sensation Irene Grandi. And much, much more.
Click here to see images from Day 6 of WDW.
