Na slici, s lijeva na desno: Max Biaggi, bivši rival Valentina Rossia u Moto GP-u i Marko Heder, autor Ducati enciklopedije.
Poštovani čitatelji u nastavku bi želio objasniti razloge zbog kojih sam odlučio napisati ovu enciklopediju.
Dakle sve je počelo kada sam bio dijete od 12-13 godina a to je bilo 1995. godine.
Naime tada sam prvi puta u životu vidio jedan Ducatijev motocikl, točnije Monster 900 i to na filmu.
Odmah me fascinirao izgled i zvuk toga meni tad paklenog SF stroja, te mogu priznati da sam se zaljubio na prvi pogled i zacrtao sam si da ću jednog dana imati takav stroj!
Tada nije bilo interneta ni mobitela ali počeo sam se zanimati općenito za Ducati i njegove proizvode pa sa kupovao svakakve strane moto- časopise ne bi li saznao čim više podataka o tim sjajnim motociklima jer na našem tržištu još nije bilo moto-časopisa niti Ducati zastupnika za Hrvatsku.
Tako da sam zapravo odrastao pomno prateći sve vezano za Ducati od 1995. godine pa sve do danas ali mi je bilo drago kada se 1996. god na našem tržištu pojavio moto-časopis Motopuls jer su mi time Ducati motocikli postali pristupačniji a otvaranje Ducati salona 2003. godine u Zagrebu također me obradovalo te sam tako preko prijateljstva sa zaposlenicima salona imao prilike biti u kontaktu sa novim događanjima u Ducati svijetu, te slušati stručne savjete i mišljenja servisera tih predivnih motocikala.
Bio sam i u prilici voziti više Ducatijevih modela kao npr, Monster 620 i 1000 DS te modele 748, 749 i SS 1000 pa sam i na taj način stekao osjećaj i znanje o tim motociklima.
Tako sam odlučio da bi sve to znanje i informacije koje imam mogao staviti i na papir kao cjelinu.
U početku je sve to bilo radi vlastitog „gušta“ pa je kasnije preraslo u djelo enciklopedijskih razmjera.
Ovim putem još zahvaljujem i svim momcima iz Zagrebačkog Ducati servisa što su mi otvorili vrata svoje radionice i što su uvijek bili otvoreni za diskusiju i savjet.
EXPLANATION OF AUTHORS PURPOSE.
Dear Reader, before we get started, I would like to explain reasons that induced me to write this Ducati encyclopedia.
It all started when I was just a kid, about 13-14 years old back in the year 1996.
The first conatact that I had with a Ducati motorcycle was when I saw movie The Crow, City of Angels from the year 1996. It was Ducati Monster 900.
I was immediately impressed by looks and sound of that SF hell spawned machine, and I was in love, I have decided that one day I will buy Ducati Monster Dark.
At that time the Internet was not accessible and commercial cell phone use was only in its beginnings, so I have decided to start buying foreign motorcycle magazines from Italy and Austria because there were no motorcycle magazines in my homeland Croatia yet.
So I have practically grew up reading about Ducati, Aprilia and KTM, but had always a soft spot for Ducati products.
Eventually in 1998. Croatian market got its first motorycle magazines so I got the opportunity for buying motorcycle literature more often, and in 2003. Croatia got its first Ducati concessionaire in Zagreb, immediately I had made my way to the Ducati shop in Zagreb and started a friendship with the employees which gave me a chance to learn more about the technology, mechanics and riding experience.
I had the opportunity to test ride Monster 620, Monster 1000 DS and 748, 749, 999, SS 1000 and Multistrada 1000 DS.
This got me experience and great amount of knowledge. Having that on my mind I have decided to put it all in one book, at first it was all for my own entertainment and fun, but later it grew up to the Ducati Encyclopedia.
At the end of this explanation of author's purpose, I would like to give my thanks to all Zagreb Ducati shop guys, people that I regard as my friends and who have always kept their service garage doors opened for me any my questions.
