~ Shell Advance, Pirelli, Brembo, Silver Car and Master & Dynamic All Sign Up to Support the Inaugural Racer Safety Initiative ~
Cupertino, Calif. – For the 100th anniversary of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), Ducati partnered with the race organizers to create the Squadra Alpina Safety Team and “Race Smart” Program to educate and mentor competitors utilizing former PPIHC champions. To support this invaluable new resource, Ducati today announced the official partners for the program, including Shell Advance, Pirelli, Brembo, Silvercar and Master & Dynamic. These brands will be proudly displayed on all Pikes Peak Squadra Alpina team riding gear and motorcycles, at Fan Fest and in the motorcycle staging area on Pit Lane.
“For Ducati, it’s a matter of giving back to the mountain that has given us so much,” said Jason Chinnock, CEO of Ducati North America. “For our partners, it’s a tribute to the legacy and drama of motorcycle racing at Pikes Peak for the past century and a way to ensure that motorcycles will compete here for the next 100 years.”
The PPIHC is the oldest and most challenging motorcycle race in the Western Hemisphere. Famous for its grueling combination of treacherous terrain, unpredictable weather conditions and ever-increasing speeds up to the 14,115 ft. (4,300 m) mountain peak, Ducati partnered with the PPIHC to develop the Race Smart Program to make sure all registered motorcycle participants have the highest level of preparation and knowledge going into race day.
At the heart of the Race Smart Program is the Pikes Peak Squadra Alpina, a team of former PPIHC champions, who will act as rider coaches, including the current course record holder, Carlin Dunne (2012 – Ducati Multistrada 1200 S /9:52.819). Other team members are Micky Dymond and brothers Greg Tracy and Gary Trachy. The Race Smart Program and the Pikes Peak Squadra Alpina Team is managed by Spider Grips principals Paul and Becca Livingston.
Additional information about the Race Smart Program and Pikes Peak Squadra Alpina Team can be found at www.ducatiusa.com. Fans can also follow the safety team on Twitter@PPSquadraAlpina.