Ducati has set its sights on taking back the course record at the 96th annual running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, set to take place June 24. The Ducati team record holder, Carlin Dunne, and current middleweight record holder, Codie Vahsholtz, make up the 2018 Spider Grips Ducati Pikes Peak team. This year’s race will also include the introduction of the new Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak to the historic “Race to the Clouds.”
Ducati has secured six victories on the mountain since the company’s debut in 2008 and held the all-time course record from 2012 until 2017 a year in which Ducati was not part of the official race competition.
Dunne was the first motorcyclist ever to traverse the 4,720-foot Pikes Peak race course in less than 10 minutes (9:52.819), which was achieved on the Multistrada 1200 S in 2012.
New to the team is rider, Codie Vahsholtz, a Colorado native who comes from a family of Pikes Peak champions but established a series victories of his own with the record time in 2017 for the Middleweight Division, the record time in 2015 for the Lightweight Division and in 2013 for the 250 Pro Class. With the 19 victories of his grandfather, Leonard Vahsholtz and the 23 wins of his father, Clint Vahsholtz, Vahsholtz carries on the legacy with the most Pikes Peak victories of any family.
The Race to the Clouds takes place on Sunday, June 24. Over the span of 12.42 miles, racers partake in 156 turns to reach the 14,115-foot summit. The first PPIHC was held in 1916 and continues to be one of the world’s most challenging road races.
Link: Ducati
