Apparently thunder only happens when it ’ s raining ... and it didn ’ t rain , but Palmerston North still came alive to the unmistakable V-twin thunder of Ducatis , as the first-ever National Ducati Paso Gathering roared into life . With a potential 17 of the rare Paso machines attending , most arrived on Friday in wet weather for the meet and greet at Brew Union Brewing . A selection of 750 , 906 and 907ie models . Two bikes decided to misbehave on the way to Palmy , one owner was called into work and another thought his bike would dissolve in the rain . On Saturday the weather gods were kinder for the main event , a Show and Shine outside Cafe Brie on Broadway where 13 Pasos were on display . The sun came out while it rained cats and dogs almost everywhere else around the country . As well as the Show and Shine , there was a presentation , prize giving and the launch of POG ( Paso Owners Group ). The food from Cafe Brie was a delicious start to the day ahead , Michelle and her team of girls know a thing or two about making good coffee too . At the prize-giving a special Ducati Paso t-shirt went to Paul Blair who had come from the furthest distance away - Hampden , a stone ’ s throw above Dunedin on a 906 . His trip meter read 1800km by the time he returned home . The trusty 906 clicked over 150,000km on the odometer during this ride . A very special Ducati Paso cap was given to the best-looking Paso , won by Struan from Wellington riding a very sharply presented Paso 750 . Ernst won the hard luck award , a POG t-shirt , as his 750 misbehaved not far from Picton ferry terminal , so he had to limp back home to Blenheim , swap it out for his Multistrada 950 and carry on , hooking up with a later ferry the same