Ducati seems to think Pikes Peak’s 86-year-old International Hill Climb is a big deal, with announcement of the “”All Roads Lead to Pikes Peak” Challenge.
They’re not just looking to maintain their hold on the Race to the Clouds motorcycle title (although they are returning with last year’s champ, Carlin Dunne, as well as six-time winner Greg Tracy), they’re hoping Ducati riders from across North America will attend the race. They’re hoping for riders from all 50 states, as well as Canada and Mexico.
Sign up on Ducati’s website, and you can start your trip planning. The page can help you sign up for a Ducati ticket package at the race, which will give you VIP access to a 4th of July celebration, a fan-focused Ride to the Cloud, a Ducatisti barbecue, and other race day activities.
Remember, the course is supposed to be paved all the way to the top this year, so you shouldn’t have to worry about taking your bike through gravel sections, should you wish to ride your sportbike to the peak.
If you’re looking for a fantastic road trip, this could be it, but don’t be disappointed if Ducati doesn’t win this year – electric racer Chip Yates made a fantastic showing last year, on a bike that wasn’t really built for the track’s gravel sections. Now that the course is supposed to be 100 per cent pavement, racers who don’t have to worry about things like fuel-air mixture changes en route will have a distinct advantage …
