Casey Stoner - MotoGP Champion 2007
Ducati - Manufacturers Championship 2007
Ducati Corse - Team Champion 2007
The Perfect Season. The Party Begins.

Saturday morning we arrive at the Ducati factory on the Borgo Panagale in Bologna. Since our visit two weeks ago for the Milan Motorcycle show the staff has been in high gear preparing for the party, changes are everywhere. First thing we see is this - 2 weeks ago it was Loris Capirossi on the wall

My personal favorite, this was new as well. Looks great doesn't it?

Although it was early, the entry parking lot was filling fast with fans filing in from all over the world. The Fiat 500 Club had a whole display of cars there but this Piaggio Ape, typically 50cc's, had a mid 90's 900SS grafted on the back for power and was stealing the show. In Italy, Ape's are used for everything but are most famous because Valentino Rossi drove a hopped up one for years. This one would make even the Doctor jealous!

If there was a spare space it now reflected Ducati's Championship status. We head up to the museum to see what's going on there

Things are busiest in the room where the GP bikes are displayed

Tucked in the now overfilled trophy cases bracketuing the display was this - the Manufacturer's Championship trophy.

Ducati fever was at a high pitch. Even the Cucciolo was having his own photo shoot

Downstairs, the Ducati Foundation, the historical restoration group founded and supported by the factory and headed up by Gianluigi Mengoli was celebrating a successful teaching school for restoring vintage Fiat 500's. I stopped in to take a few photos.....

And found myself suddenly in the presentation, honored for my support in the USA of the historical Ducati's as well as my many Motogiro d'Italia's compititions (and being the first woman on the Motogiro). I think I should have worn red.