160kmile Monster-Prince or Toad?
Ya, the guy was in Monterey for the MotoGP race. His bike was selected to compete in the Motoconcourso...one of 22 bikes selected out of the the 2500-3000 bikes that were there, or near there, on Ducati Island. Not to be a snob, but the other 21 bikes selected were the "creme of the crop" as selected by the Ducati folks who walked the entire Island and alternate parking lot. It was an honor just to be selected to compete in this group. Phil's "high mileage model" while notable for his passion to ride so much, was out of place against the other bikes, all of whom were ridden too, AND kept clean and polished! One of the guys in our club has a older Monster that is ridden alot and kept outside in a carport, but covered and cared for...and his bike looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. The Motoconcourso was billed as a contest that judges those bikes that were above and beyond the norm in appearance and cleanliness....several guys who could have been selected were not...and this was just one of the reasons why they were not allowed to compete. Give the guy a passion/mileage award...but let the guys/gals who poured alot of sweat and money into the brand get recognized for their efforts to make Ducati's the Crown Jewels of Sport Motorcycling. That is what a Motoconcourso is all about, and what the crowd came to see. Across town in Carmel you will never see a car with a million miles on the odometer, but never washed or cared for, on the lawn at "The Quail" Concourse. While admirable that the car has made it that far in distance...Concourse Events are held to judge those cars that have been maintained in top condition...the jewels of the Marque...and that should have been the case at Ducati Island in my opinion.
Note: It was Ducati's Event...they can do whatever they wish. They put on one hell of an event...even in a crappy economy. They are to be commended for that commitment to their owners and fans. When you put on the party, you get to call the shots...and it was Ducati who selected the bikes as they felt fit. I'm just saying that the guy who put a lot of money and time/sweat into his effort and not to be selected to compete vs this bike with 160k on the clock, but never washed or cared for, is a slap in face to the guy who tried but didn't make the show.