Ducati is inviting riders to put the Italian motorcycle manufacturer down on the motorcycle calendar for a ‘Race to the Clouds’.

This year Pikes Peak International Hill Climb celebrates its 90^th run in Colorado Springs on July 8th, 2012.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motor sports race in America and a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region.

First competed in 1916, this year marks the 90th running of the "Race to the Clouds."

In 2012, the race will take place on Sunday, July 8 with race related events all week long. Fan Fest, on Friday, July 6 in downtown Colorado Springs, will feature motorcycle jumpers, two beer gardens, a chili cook-off, live bands and the Denver Bronco Cheerleaders and is expected to draw over 35,000 spectators.

The race is run on a 12.42 mile course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of America’s Mountain; Pikes Peak. As the drivers and riders climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes and saps muscle strength. The thin air also robs engines of 30% of their power at the summit so the competitors and vehicles must be in top shape simply to finish, let alone win.

This year the race has 16 classes and features a variety of automotive, exhibition, open wheel, super stock car, and motorcycle classes with a field approaching 200 competitors.

Race Week begins Tuesday, July 3 with Tech Inspection at Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR) in Fountain, Colorado. Every vehicle undergoes a rigorous inspection with a concentration on safety issues. That evening there will be meetings for all the riders and drivers at the Raceway. Practice and qualifying takes place Wednesday through Friday from 5:30 to 9:30 am on Pikes Peak.

The current record is 09:51.278 and was set by Nobuhiro Tajima in 2011.

Ducati has enjoyed a presence at the event in the past and is promising days filled with events and activities.

These include;

Fan ride up Pikes Peak lead by Carlin Dunne and Greg Tracy

Ducati Owner Hotel Package

Ducati Owner Ticket Package

Ducati Owner Parking at Fan Fest

Ducati Hospitality on Race Day

Of course, there is always the promise of more with Ducati offering more events and not surprisingly a special edition of the highly popular Multistrada.

The Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak edition reportedly 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 anodized in black finish and sport red pin-striping on the wheels. In addition to the original equipment windscreen, the Pikes Peak Special Edition arrives with a race-derived low screen in carbon fiber.

A Ducati Performance carbon fiber front mudguard and custom made seat detailed with red stitching complete an enhanced specification 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.

Here are highlights from last years event.

Dim lights