DROC Appoints New President, Vice President, and Secretary

Newport Beach, CA, September 21, 2021.  Ducati Riders of Orange County announces the appointment of a new President, Vice President, and Secretary.  An election was organized by the former officers of the DROC, and the candidates were selected using a self-nomination process.  On August 15, 2021, a vote was held by active members of the DROC club to elect the new officers.  Effective August 22, 2021, the new President is Renato Bonomini, the new Vice President is Mario Espinoza, and the new Secretary is Pratik Kekre. Chris Kirkwood will remain as Treasurer.

The former President, Gustavo Gomez, has served with unwavering commitment and distinction for three years.  The contributions Mr. Gomez made to the DROC club are vast and unfathomable.  Mr. Gomez built the foundation of the DROC club and raised it to what it is today.  We thank Mr. Gomez and are forever grateful for his extraordinary work and passionate commitment to the DROC club.  We wish Mr. Gomez fortune and good health and hope he will run for President again. The former Vice President and Secretary, Andy Osvalds and Nader Mikhail, respectively, also severed with dedication and passion for the DROC club.  Mr. Osvalds and Mr. Mikhail, were both instrumental in building up the DROC club alongside the president and provided Mr. Gomez with tangible and moral support.  We thank Mr. Osvalds and Mr. Mikhail for their contributions to the DROC club and wish them fortune and good health.

Chris Kirkwood, Treasurer: Mr. Kirkwood founding member of the DROC club will continue to offer his services and support.  Since 2015, Mr. Kirkwood has provided needed organizational infrastructure for the club, Incorporation, Banking, website and meetup subscriptions.  His passion for motorcycles has spanned over 50 years.  He enjoys MotoGP and watching the Ducati Team win races.  He currently enjoys riding his Ducatis (4) and enjoys helping in the success of the club and the DROC brand.  He has created several logo items for the club; including license plate frames, pins, patches, decals, mugs, socks, and whatever looks cool.  His passion for Ducati began when he purchased the "Queen" as he calls it a 2007 1098S Tricolore in 2009.

Renato Bonomini, the New President: Mr. Bonomini has been a DOC member since 2015, while living in Boston he joined the NEDOC (New England) and then joined DROC upon moving to the South Bay area of Los Angeles in 2019.  Mr. Bonomini was born in Italy and raised in Castiglione delle Stiviere; a town a couple of hours north of Bologna.  He started riding motorbikes at age 14 on a racing replica 50 CC sport bike.  It was not until Mr. Bonomini moved from Italy to the USA that he was finally able to own his first Ducati, a Panigale 899, and one can always make space for another Ducati, so a Monster 1200S joined the stable soon after.  Mr. Bonomini says, "Like all engineers, I love technology, and in my spare time, I am a maker-tinkering of Arduino based devices and 3D printing.  I also enjoyed many years of star gazing through telescopes and plunging into the world of scuba diving.  My passion for Ducati started with its advanced technology but quickly evolved in loving the connection with the Ducatisti community that is so strong in Southern California."

Mario Espinoza, the New Vice President: Mr. Bonomini has been a DOC member since 2015, while living in Boston he joined the NEDOC (New England) and then joined DROC upon moving to the South Bay area of Los Angeles in 2019.  Mr. Bonomini was born in Italy and raised in Castiglione delle Stiviere; a town a couple of hours north of Bologna.  He started riding motorbikes at age 14 on a racing replica 50 CC sport bike.  It was not until Mr. Bonomini moved from Italy to the USA that he was finally able to own his first Ducati, a Panigale 899, and one can always make space for another Ducati, so a Monster 1200S joined the stable soon after.  Mr. Bonomini says, "Like all engineers, I love technology, and in my spare time, I am a maker-tinkering of Arduino based devices and 3D printing.  I also enjoyed many years of star gazing through telescopes and plunging into the world of scuba diving.  My passion for Ducati started with its advanced technology but quickly evolved in loving the connection with the Ducatisti community that is so strong in Southern California."

Pratik Kekre, the New Secretary: Mr. Kekre has been a DOC member since 2018, while living in San Jose he joined Desmo of Silicon Valley, and then joined DROC upon moving to Los Angeles in 2020.  Mr. Kekre was born in India and raised in the city of Pune, Maharashtra, a town south of Mumbai.   He started riding motorcycles at age 16 on a 150 CC sport bike.   Currently Mr. Kekre is a proud owner of 2 Ducati bikes, a 2018 Monster 821 which his wife gifted him, and a 2020 Panigale V4S. During his spare time, he is often seen capturing moments with his camera.   Mr. Kekre says, "I am new to the Ducati family but the warm welcome that I have received across the DOC clubs is an experience in itself. Love of Ducati brought me here and the love from all Ducatisti will keep me here! Forza Ducati! "

About DROC: The Ducati Riders of Orange County (DROC) is dedicated to bringing people together of diverse backgrounds and philosophies that have a passion for motorcycles and especially the Ducati brand.  In accordance with Ducati DOC (Desmo Owners Club) regulations, the DROC club is proudly sponsored by Newport Beach Ducati, and recognized by Ducati as an official DOC.  DROC welcomes all Ducati motorcycle owners to join our club, attend our bike nights, participate in our group rides on the amazing roads of Southern California, and attend recreational track days which the club announces on a variety of social media outlets DROC Members may also participate in exclusive Ducati events, such as Ducati Island at Circuit of the Americas and Laguna Seca, as well as World Ducati Week in Misano, Italy, at discounted prices.  The DROC has and will continue to support local charity events, such as an organized group ride to deliver toys for the annual Toy Drive of Orange County.

Contact: Mario Espinoza | vp@drocdesmo.com | 1601 Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

www.drocdesmo.com | www.facebook.com/drocdesm | www.instagram.com/drocdesmo | www.twitter.com/drocdesmo