Video: One Lap at Mugello Aboard Ducati’s Panigale 1299

Mugello. It's a special place not just for riders but for motorcycle grand prix racing as a whole. The track sits in a quiet Italian valley and is a favorite among riders and racers for its unique layout which flows from one hillside to the next. It's also home to some incredible grand prix history including victories, upsets, and battles — many of which including Valentino Rossi.

So I’ll admit that when I found myself wandering around the Mugello Circuit’s paddock, I couldn’t help but notice a surreal feeling about the place. Thinking of the historic battles that have happened there made me want nothing more than to race the track myself, but that’s not what I was there to do. Actually, I was attending a Ducati Riding Experience event, a one day riding course at the iconic circuit, which I’ll post about later on.

But attending the DRE and riding the circuit was like nothing I had ever experienced. The flow of the racetrack was second-to-none and the front straightaway was, in one word, insane. Television coverage does no justice of just how amazing and how fast this place really is. It’s truly one of my favorites.

For your own quick taste of Mugello, click play on the video above to sit onboard with me as I wrestle a Ducati Panigale 1299 around the track trying my best to be “MotoGP.”

Seriously, can I go back yet?