Ange and Darryl spent the week in Inver's during the 2023 Burt Munroe Challenge recently, and allegedly "motivated" Mark and Ross to partner up, and not forgetting Christine, to take on the DOCNZ Director duties for Southland. Read that as you will!
Rumour has it that this trio met at a gas station years ago when Christine went over to Mark admiring the seat of his bike! Cheeky!
Changing the subject, Mark tells me that Southland is spoilt for great rides, and the trio are looking forward to enjoying the roads with locals and visiting Ducatisti.
Southlander's get your bikes and bodies along to their first meeting on 7 March!
Let's find out more about them...
Christine, Ross, and Mark
Ross’s passion for motorcycle riding started later in life.
Motivation came from accepting the challenge to ride a two wheeled Ferrari.
At 50, the purchase of an ST3 came prior to having his motorcycle license and saw him participate in a track day at Teretonga just three days later. Here he received valuable instruction from superbike racer Aaron Slight.
In March 2014 Ross and Christine shipped the bike to the port of Vina del Mar, Chile to begin a 30-day tarmac tour through some of Chile and Argentina’s most diverse scenery.
A dream tour in 2017 was an obvious highlight, they left the Bologna factory on a 950 Multistrada to carve up the twisting roads over the picturesque hills of Tuscany for three days.
His 998 FE or 1260 Multistrada is now the perfect accompaniment for the way Ross likes to ride.
Riding Ducati has been a life changing experience for both Ross and Christine and they're looking forward to coordinating club events in the region and to have some fun with other Ducatisti.
Ross and his completely original, intricately master crafted tuk-tuk. It even has WINGS!
Mark, an average Southern guy who gets out on two wheels whenever the opportunity arises.
Having been a DOCNZ member for 6 years, Mark only actually bought a Ducati in 2021. Call it a late blooming love affair!
Mark loves how well his 2013 Panigale 1199S performs and handles. So different to the four cylinders he had in the past.
Riding since getting his license in 1978, bikes run in the family. Mark's grandmother rode in the 1920’s which was apparently not the done thing… well ahead of her time obviously!
His best advice came as he starting riding, a friends father who rode and raced AJS’s and Velocettes in the 1940’s said “Remember son, invest your money in good tyres and brakes…. Everything else can wait”
And a mantra he lives by, it’s an oldie but a goodie “When going for a ride, always dress for the slide…."
Mark with his beloved 1199S
