Motogiro d'Italia 2007 - Sicily

Sicily. If places bring to mind colors, than this place is bright sea blue with some deep orange thrown in for highlight. In May Sicily is in full bloom - wildflowers and wildly flavorful fruit are everywhere you turn. Toss in some Italian motorcycles and you have the recipe for this years Motogiro d'Italia which returned to the island at the tip of Italy for the second time this year. The highlight of this years route was Mount Etna, a must see place if there ever was one. Currently active it was kind enough to misbehave on the other side of the mountain, leaving our route and viewing pleasure uninterupted. The 2007 event began for us at the NCR workshop (see the gallery here: http://ducati.smugmug.com/gallery/2835303 ) with a story that began two years ago. It's about a man, a dream and one fast little bike.........
Photos by Vicki Smith

The bike is a 125cc Ducati single, built at the NCR workshop over a 5 day period with the help of Rino Caracchi, the most historic mechanic in Ducati's vast history, he's the C in NCR. It's a purpose built tool, conceived and designed to be the perfect, historically honorable, Motogiro d'Italia cutting edge tool. Just under 200 lbs, with a magneto system rather than a battery, the idea was to create a machine that honored the spirit of the event. That meant it had to be fast and reliable with plenty of midrange for the mountains, low end for the skill tests, top end for the straights and at least a little comfort for the rider. It's a lot harder than it sounds. Two years of planning and the bike was ready for it's days in the Sicilian sun.

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The bike is a 125cc Ducati single, built at the NCR workshop over a 5 day period with the help of Rino Caracchi, the most historic mechanic in Ducati's vast history, he's the C in NCR. It's a purpose built tool, conceived and designed to be the perfect, historically honorable, Motogiro d'Italia cutting edge tool. Just under 200 lbs, with a magneto system rather than a battery, the idea was to create a machine that honored the spirit of the event. That meant it had to be fast and reliable with plenty of midrange for the mountains, low end for the skill tests, top end for the straights and at least a little comfort for the rider. It's a lot harder than it sounds. Two years of planning and the bike was ready for it's days in the Sicilian sun.