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

Anyone who has ridden this event on a little bike knows this picture well. The only way to pass the trucks that litter Italy and the route is to get a few feet from the bumper and hang there sticking your head out and looking for a gap in traffic. With only 12 or so horsepower passing is an art and science. I've done it so many times I look at this photo and I can smell the exhaust and feel the heat of the truck.

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Anyone who has ridden this event on a little bike knows this picture well. The only way to pass the trucks that litter Italy and the route is to get a few feet from the bumper and hang there sticking your head out and looking for a gap in traffic. With only 12 or so horsepower passing is an art and science. I've done it so many times I look at this photo and I can smell the exhaust and feel the heat of the truck.