Ducati has announced dates for its 2017 DRE Riding Academy, the off-road riding school set in the Tuscan hills.
Utilising a fleet of Ducati’s Multistrada 950 and Multistrada 1200 Enduros, the Italian manufacturer has announced a series of eight dates in June and July. It claims that the course, which is held in the luxurious surroundings of Nipozzano castle, helps participants improve their riding techniques and develop skills that can be transferred to riding on the road.
The DRE, which stands for Ducati Riding Experience, take place under the leadership of experienced instructors led by ex-Dakar rally rider Beppe Gualini, the technical director of the event. The DRE Enduro Academy courses are designed for everyone, from novices who want to increase their confidence and bike control, to expert off-roaders who want to learn from the experience of the best riders. Participants follow exercises to practice the right techniques for overcoming obstacles, emergency braking on poor grip surfaces and learn how to handle the weight of the body on uneven road surfaces like the “washboard” terrain typical of sandy deserts.
All the bikes supplied to the DRE Enduro Academy participants are equipped with Ducati Performance components for more extreme use, from the Ducati Performance bull bars by Touratech, to Pirelli Scorpion Rally tyres as well as type-approved Termignoni silencers and more.
As well as improving riding skills, the DRE is also great fun, challenging and set in one of the most Europe’s most spectacular locations. Recognising that the area is a perfect destination for a short break, Ducati provides facilities for non-riders who may wish to accompany partners on the trip. They can choose to spend the day exploring the historic village of Nipozzano, visiting the wine cellars and enjoying the panoramas thanks to excursions in the Tuscan hills. Alternatively, they can follow the riders around the large off-road areas as a passenger in a Volkswagen Amorak 4×4.
The cost of participating in the DRE Enduro course is € 680, excluding accommodation. To sign up, or find out more information, visit: www.dreenduro.ducati.com
The dates for 2017 are as follows:
2-3 June
3-4 June
23-24 June
24-25 June
7-8 July
8-9 July
21-22 July
22-23 July
Ducati has also announced that its museum, hosted at the Bologna factory, will now be open on Sundays. More than 40,000 Ducati fans visit the facility every year, making it Bologna’s second most visited museum, and it will now be open from 9am-6pm from Thursday to Tuesday during the summer months. It is closed on Wednesdays.
