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Ducati Owners Club ’round The Bend | NEWS

The state’s Ducati Owners Club gets first trackday dibs on South Australia’s newest track

Australia’s oldest Ducati fan club, The Ducati Owners Club of South Australia, is combining with the Historic Motor Cycle Racing Register of SA to hold the first motorcycle club trackday at The Bend Motorsport Park.

The event takes place this Friday, 27 April, and will see a cross-section of over 100 European, British, Japanese and American machines circulate The Bend’s 4.95km International Circuit.

It is a fitting achievement for the two clubs. The DOCSA was founded in 1974 and has played a significant role in encouraging riders of Italian machinery. At one stage in the 1980s-early 1990s, more Ducatis were sold in South Australia than even in NSW.

The club recently held its annual Italian Motorcycle Show at the seaside suburb of Glenelg, attracting huge entries. It has also exhibited at several recent Adelaide 500 Supercar events.

One of its life members is former GP-crew chief Jeremy Burgess, who will also be attending The Bend ride day, happy to lend assistance or advice on bike setups.

The HMCRRSA was formed in 1977, when historic racing was just starting. It has hosted the national historic championships twice. Register patron is Mal Pitman, former Australian and Grand Prix crew chief who is working closely with ASBK rider Daniel Falzon this season.

“Our club is very excited to be part of this inaugural event with the HMCRRSA,” said DOCSA spokesman and long-time member Michael Myles. “Club member bikes registered for this event range from Ducati 900SS bevels to several 750 F1s and two of the latest Ducati V4 Panigales.”

Both clubs have combined several times in recent years to hire Mallala and Mac Park for member-only ride days.

By Hamish Cooper