On June 26th, 2011 Spider Grips will be returning to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with team riders Greg Tracy and Alexander Smith riding Ducati Multistrada 1200S motorcycles. The Pikes Peak race course begins at above 9,300 ft. altitude and twists through more than 156 turns winding uphill over 12 miles to finish at the 14,000 ft summit of the mountain. To add to the challenge, this race starts on pavement, transitions to dirt, then back to pavement for the finish.
Our Spider Grips/Ducati team began in 2008. Spider Team riders Greg Tracy and Alexander Smith took on the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with Ducati Hypermotard motorcycles and came away with first and fourth place finishes respectively.
In 2010 the Spider Grips/Ducati team returned to the mountain with Ducati’s Multistrada 1200S. Once again Greg and Alexander were successful, bringing home first and third place finishes.
The Spider Grips/Ducati team was formed as a part of Spider Grips’ commitment to racing as a form of Research and Development. We believe that a ‘hands on’ approach is the best way to advance product technology. As a part of our race program we have learned volumes about motorcycle grips in use – vibration damping, contact surface and grip durability – lessons which we have been able to apply to our grip designs.
The grip we use on our Spider Grips/Ducati Multistrada 1200S is the Spider SLR model – slim and supple, easy to hold onto and with great feedback from the motorcycle and race course. Just ask 6 Time Pikes Peak Champion Greg Tracy about his Spider Grips and he’ll tell you: “They make me faster!”
And now – Ok; have to admit it – we think this is pretty cool.
Ducati has announced a special limited edition version of their new Multistrada 1200S. And it is based on the Spider Grips Ducati team bikes that took first and third place last year at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
FROM THE DUCATI PRESS RELEASE:
Ducati unveils the Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak in celebration of the famous victory in the 2010 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race in Colorado by the Spider Grips Ducati Team.
This Special Edition underlines the race-bred heritage that exists deep inside every Ducati and follows a massive first year success for the award-winning Multistrada 1200, which set a new industry benchmark in motorcycle technology with the four-bikes-in-one concept.
The Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak is specially dressed in stunning Ducati Corse-style paint scheme with red trellis frame, passenger foot-peg hangers and engine guard anodised in black finish and sport red pin-striping on the wheels. In addition to the original equipment silencer and screen the Pikes Peak Special Edition arrives with a race-derived low screen in carbon fibre. A Ducati Performance carbon fibre front mudguard, and custom made seat detailed with red stitching complete an enhanced specification well worthy of a race-winning replica. Each Pikes Peak Special Edition Multistrada in North America will come with a numbered badge on the engine crankcase cover, noting the individuality of the motorcycle.
In conjunction with the launch of this striking new model, Ducati is excited to announce its entry in the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, featuring last year’s winning line up of Greg Tracy and Alexander Smith. Preparations have already begun for the defense of the title, and the Spider Grips Ducati Team will be fighting for top time up the mountain come June. In addition to racing the event, Ducati will be organizing a Multistrada owner tour to the race; dubbed “All Roads Lead To Pikes Peak.” The event will be the first official Multistrada owner’s gathering, and details will be on the www.ducatiusa.com shortly.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, or “Race to the Clouds”, is situated in a range of the Rocky Mountains, 10 miles west of Colorado Springs and races 12.42 miles from a start line altitude of 9,390 feet to a finish line at 14,110 feet. First held in 1916, the event is now on the international calendar of the FIA in addition to holding seven motorcycle categories from 250-1200cc.
The early arrival model year 2012 Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak Special Edition will be available in North America from June 2011 onwards.
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