Entry deadlines are fast approaching for the Ducati Superbike Concorso Laguna Seca and Mid Ohio rounds.

If you aren't fully familiar with the contest it's nothing like a regular bike show, but rather a shootout between all Ducati Superbikes built between 1972 and 2008 and not a flat outbeauty or bling contest. In fact, one winner in the last round didn't even have his bike repainted from a crash, but he won anyway. There's a great story there of course but it just proves a lot of things get taken into account, historical significance, owner's passion for the project, miles on the machine, race history, upgrades, paint, overall beauty, etc. And the judges are professionals so they know just how rare, say, a box stock 1995 916 is, or how hard it is to make some of these custom modifications, the thought and the time it took to make them work. They even allow race bikes which is fitting since let's face it, that's where a whole lot of these machines are best appreciated anyway.

The classes are different too, all named for great pieces of Ducati's history - Cook Neilson, Taglioni, Troy Bayliss and Casey Stoner need no introduction but the Bella Award is for a bike that stirs the judges soul and the Passion Award Sponsored by Motorcyclist Magazine goes toa bike that was ridden in, no trailer queens allowed! Ducati genuinely wants as many owners as possible to be involved and the rules reflect it.

Two rounds have gone down already and there are three more to go - Laguna Seca MotoGP, Mid-Ohio AMA and Indy GP. At each round there are 6 winners of $500 Ducati Performance gift certificates, one Peoples Choice winner and that Italy trip everybody is gunning for because it's the trip money can't buy. Last year the winners visited the Ducati Corse race shop, the Milan show Ducati display CEO's hospitality area, the Ducati factory, Ducati museum, NCR, Poggipolini Titanium and the Bologna Ducati outlet store.

Entry's are limited and the formula includes points for early entries so waiting to the last minute isn't the best idea, especially since the contest isn't until weeks after the entry deadline. All accepted entries get a free ticket into the races and a gift bag from Ducati. If you have questions about how it works or what it takes to get picked feel free to contact Vicki directly at: Superbikeconcorso@Ducatiusa.com or Veloce916@aol.com

If you want to see what the entries from the first two rounds looked like
here's the link to my photo gallery from Daytona:
http://www.ducati.smugmug.com/gallery/4496609_fSzjB

And the link to the online round on Ducatiusa.com:
http://superbikeconcorso.ducatiusa.com/2008onlineroundview_1.php

Or if you just want to jump right in and enter, that's right here:
http://superbikeconcorso.ducatiusa.com/2008Concorso.php
Hope to see you at the races!