Prince William rides his 1198S Corse home from footie

Royal dude Prince William rode his Ducati 1198S Corse home from football training last night, the Sun reports – in a welcome and defiant up-yours to anti-bike society. Clad in tracksuit, trainers, paddock jacket and tinted visor the MCN-reading Prince managed to potter the few well-lit miles home to Clarence House on his ‘180mph, 1100cc superbike’ without so much as killing himself or breaking the law.

MCN’s Michael Guy, who spent a week riding with both Princes in Africa, two years ago says: “William loves the anonymity of pulling on bike kit, and he’s a proper bike nut like the rest of us. I only wish I could tell you all the stories!”

William’s 1189S Corse superseded an earlier 1098R Bayliss rep which the Prince insisted be fitted with a full Termignoni system. The bike went on to feature in an MCN road test. “It was awesomely loud” confirms editor Marc Potter. “I guess he figured, is the future King going to get nicked for noisy pipes? Probably not!” He was also pictured in 2009 riding a black 1198S to a polo match and a Daytona 600 around the grounds of one of his houses.