Captured Moments / Misano World Circuit

By Dale Spangler

According to the old adage, “A picture is worth 1,000 words,” more often than not, a photograph can convey an idea, experience, or concept more effectively than the written word. In many ways, it’s the end goal of marketers when they direct the creation of photos for advertisements and social media; to tell a story with little to no words in the estimated three seconds that a brand has to capture its audience’s attention.

The thing is, the story behind the making of a photo is often much more complicated (and entertaining) than the end result. For example, it could have taken three hours of driving on cobbled dirt roads, followed by a two-mile hike to get to the spot where a photo was taken. It’s those before and after details that tell the full story of a photograph.

After spending hours sifting through hundreds of old photos, I’ve decided to tell the story behind one chosen photo in each installment of a new series I’m calling, “Captured Moments.” My hope is that you enjoy reading the backstory of each featured photo as much as I enjoyed recalling the memories.

That said, here is the first installment of Captured Moments:

Photo: Misano World Circuit
Location: Misano Adriatico, Italy

I cannot recall the name of the photographer that captured this photo, but I do know it was a bucket list experience. I had been living and working in Italy for Alpinestars for some time when one weekend I worked a media event at the Misano road racing circuit. Located a few hours south of the Alpinestars headquarters in Asolo, the Misano circuit is a world-class road racing facility that hosts a round of the World Superbike Series. The invite-only motorcycle media event was created to allow European journalists to test products from multiple brands in one location. Aprilia, Dianese, Alpinestars, and many other renowned brands were in attendance. My job was to help the journalists get lined out with boots for when they hit the track and to share any technical details needed for their resulting write-ups.

In the afternoon, as the journalists began to finish up for the day, one of them asked me when it was my turn to spin some laps. I hadn’t even considered the possibility that I would get to ride myself, but with a green light from the boss, I hustled over to the Dianese tent to get fitted with a leather tracksuit. Donning a Dianese leather suit and helmet, and Alpinestars boots and gloves, I was ready for my first sportbike experience—on a course ridden my World Superbike racers, no less! Having ridden only dirt bikes my entire life, where top speeds reach (at most) 60 mph, I had no clue what I was in for, except that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I wasn’t going to pass up. To say that I had butterflies in my stomach would be an understatement.

“I had no clue what I was in for, except that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I wasn’t going to pass up.”

After a quick walk-through from the Aprilia crew about the bike I was to ride (RSV-Mille 1000!), and a few pointers for how to ride a road course from one of the on-site instructors, I was ready to roll. As I pulled up to enter the circuit, one of the instructors told me he would lead me around the course for a few laps to show me the proper technique, and then I was on my own. It was at that point that I knew this was happening; there was no turning back, and as I rolled out onto the track and grabbed a handful of throttle to accelerate down the long start straight, I was nervous as hell.

At first, I was more worried about getting in the way as faster riders came up behind me. But after a few laps, I slowly began to relax and enjoy myself. I started to get used to the higher speeds and long sweeping corners that seemed to go on forever. It was so different from riding a dirt bike—but in a good way!

After a few more laps, I started to roll out of the corner before the start/finish straight, pop a wheelie, and try to hold it up all the way across the finish line as if I’d just won a race. My hope was that one of the journalists would capture my “victory” wheelie as a keepsake moment. But it never happened.

Afterward, as I basked in the post-ride buzz, one of the Italian journalists came up to me, gave me a thumbs-up, and said, “Your speed—not so good. Your wheelies—good!” That day was my one (and only) experience riding a sportbike on a road racing circuit—and for a good reason—I was slow! And although I may not be doing a wheelie in the photo that was captured, that day at Misano will forever be a cherished memory from my time spent in Europe.

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