Ducati Riding Experience (DRE) set for India debut

Ducati Riding Experience or DRE will be introduced in India this year. The basic premise behind DRE is to help improve riding skills then be it on the street, off-road or on a track. As you’d expect, DRE is targeted mainly at Ducati owners and is designed more for markets like China, Thailand and now India wherein the licensing system isn’t as strict as Europe. As a result, one can hop on a near 200bhp machine in these markets immediately once a permanent driving licence is issued without prior or much needed riding experience. Needless to say, it can be dangerous for the new rider as well as his fellow motorists.

The intent at DRE is to make Ducati riders safer and quicker, as a result helping the overall cause of safe motoring. There are other bike makers who have introduced riding schools in India as well. Honda has a training school for its big bike owners and Triumph has only just started an off-road riding schools targeted at owners of its Tiger range of adventure motorcycles.

DRE has four courses – Intro, Precision, Track (this is further split into four different training programs), and Off-road. You can read about them in greater detail HERE. In India though, Ducati will only introduce the first two for the time being. Ducati India has already trained a set of experienced Indian riders to be instructors for the same and these riding courses will either be held on race tracks or large, open parking areas in India.

Ducati India says even though DRE’s curriculum was developed in Italy, there will be tailor made solutions for the school here, which will be in line with situations motorcycle riders face specifically in India. Ravi Avalur, managing director, Ducati India says, “The DRE is a great experience for first time riders as well as those who have been riding for a while.” Adding that DRE also helps riders recognise and realise that many of us pick up poor riding habits along the way. DRE, given the way it is designed, doesn’t just help correct these, but also helps riders learn new skills and teaches them how to apply these techniques correctly.

Meanwhile, everyone one is welcome at DRE even though it is designed specifically for Ducati owners. One can either ride in on their personal Ducati or hire one from DRE to run the courses with. The latter, naturally, will be the pricier option. According to Ducati India, DRE will be hosted in all cities the Italian motorcycle maker has a dealership in.