In this issue: IMOLA 1972 MOTOGIRO ITALIA DESMOSEDICI RR

SUPERMOTO ITALIANE - OCTOBER 2020 MONDODUCATI DOSSIER

In this issue: IMOLA 197 04 PAUL SMART BIOGRAPHY 6 MOTOGIRO ITALIA 4 DESMOSEDICI RR 50

OCTOBER 2020 Redazione: Hanno collaborato: Franco Bartoli Giuliano Musi SUPERMOTO ITALIANE [email protected] Paul Smart Registrata presso Marco Rainero il tribunale di Firenze con [email protected] Editore: il n° 5554 il 20/02/2007 FBA - Via U. Rattazzi, 2/E/1 50136 Firenze Direttore Responsabile: [email protected] Carlo Bartoli

 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER  IMOLA 1972 by Paul Smart

 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER  On the occasion of the presentation of the Paul Smart 1000 Limited Edition, Ducati collected the testimony of the English rider on the “200 Miglia di Imola”, a race that saw him triumph on the Ducati 750 in 1972: here is the full text as reported in the press kit of the time. An unmissable document!

Meeting the new Ducati for the first that my “ride” for the race was another old time bike, patched together for the weekend. I got on the airplane tired, having just I went straight from the airport to finished a race at Atlanta in the USA. I was race track, and was greeted by a great mass not real happy as I had the long trip ahead of mechanics and race personnel in their of me to Imola for a race that my wife had blue overalls. I certainly got the message that committed me to. I was not at all sure that I something important was going on. Franco wanted to go. Farné who was heading-up the race depart- Arriving in Italy, I was surprised to be picked ment spoke a little English, and thank good- up at the airport by a big car. You know the ness there was Angela, his English-speaking ones with the curtains in the windows, the South African secretary. From them, I got car of the Direttore or something. That my the feeling that they were anticipating some- initial attitude was negative is an understate- thing very important in the works. ment, you see I was totally prepared to find We went straight to the practice circuit Paul Smart in 2005.

 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER  in the middle”. You get pre- effort into it. It just felt slow changed before we went to conceived ideas just looking revving, like it fired every Imola. We made a few minor at a bike. I had just gotten off lamp post (well it wasn’t adjustments – footrests, han- one of the most evil handling slow, it just felt it) but still dlebars and the like and in in the world, quick enough, and the chassis 20 minutes I went back out. in Modena, which was right by apartment blocks. Add to ment looking on. The Imola and this new Ducati made seemed to work fine. I did about ten more laps in the middle of town. The this all of the airplanes lining 200 was only days away and me think that I was stepping After the first 10 laps the and headed back to the pad- circuit was also an airport, the circuit it was very easy we were desperately short back in time. A four-stroke only thing I had to criticise dock. Remember, I was really with airplanes parked along to be totally distracted. I of time. twin? was the TT100 street tyres. tired and my mood poor, the sides of the track. This hadn’t been in Italy for a day, The first time I saw the bike So I just went out and did I wanted Dunlop race tyres, and when I came into the is the same place they used yet by midday I was at the was at the track. I thought, 10 laps. Right away I could but the mechanics were sure pits I was ready to criticise to hold a round of the Ital- Modena track, ready to test a “This thing is so long its tell the engine was the story. they wouldn’t last for the and rip the bike to bits, but ian Championship. The track brand new with never going to go round a Ducati had obviously been 200 miles of Imola, but I as I came in to the pits was completely surrounded the entire team and manage- corner…and it’s got a hinge working hard and put a lot of kept insisting that they were I knew something was up.

 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER  10 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 11 The whole team was jump- talking to you, asking ques- and unproven thing could ing up and down, clapping tions, analysing the situation. finish a 200 mile race. The and patting me on the back. I will always remember that bike was a lot quicker than I It seems I had just broken broad smile. expected 84bhp to be and it the world Champion Agos- The bike had only just been didn’t lose power when it got tini’s lap record -- on street produced, created from bits hot during the race like the tyres! And of course stand- and pieces from the GT two strokes I had been rid- ing there was Ingenere Tagli- models that had just been ing. It made really tractable oni. He always had a smile on introduced. My feeling was power and allowed me to his face and was constantly that it was unlikely that such be more aggressive with the

12 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 13 throttle. All this was a surprise to me and the new Ducati was much easier to ride and more powerful than the Triumph I had ridden the year before. There wasn’t much more to do, Ducati had it all pretty well sorted. The biggest hassle was the tyres, they just wouldn’t listen; so I just insisted, if we were down to the carcass at the end of the race, we would deal with it then.

The Imola 200 The race was the biggest thing in Italy. Checco Costa’s grand event, and he really wanted every Italian manufacturer there, and all the top riders. No excuses accepted, he wanted them all there. Arriving at the track I knew a few people -- Agostini, the English riders and a couple oth- ers who were all surprised to see me there. The secrecy in the Ducati pits, Taglione’s smile and my presence occupied everyone’s thoughts. Something was up at Ducati. All the top names and teams were on hand. Agostini with his world beating MV Agusta, Villa on a very strong Triumph, Jack Findlay on a really trick Moto Guzzi, Saarinen on his Yamaha, Peter Williams and I think Croxford on the Nortons plus the extended Triumph team with Pickford and Jefferies in the saddle. There were also teams from , Yamaha and Kawasaki. A ride on the new Ducati mounts was offered to a number of top riders, but all declined to go out on such an unproven thing. Practice went extremely well, with Bruno Spaggiari my team mate and me setting most of the fastest laps. Immediately the grumbling started by the people who had the chance to

14 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 15 ians can make. Thousands of wonderful old style Grand a wheel off could have some people clogged the roadways Prix circuit, which did, and rather unsavoury conse- and it took forever to get still does run around the quences. The track was a into the circuit. Everywhere hills at the back of the old bit damp and I could see ride the bikes and chose not he was on Pole. He was the going to faze me. I didn’t you looked were race fans town of Imola. The race was this would be a sprint – no to. Much to their surprise World Champion after all, so care who they were, as long watching from any vantage run primarily on closed-off backing-off or cruising for the bikes were up front. no one argued. as they were second. point, from rooftops to the public roads and its layout the entire race. The critical Agostini’s plan was to go I wasn’t too fussed or intim- On race day I couldn’t tops of trees, everywhere encourage really high speeds. part of the circuit was the like stink and win, or until his idated by the competition or believe how many people you looked you saw a mass My only worry was rain, as Tamburello corner, the same MV broke. I think he was on my team mate Spaggiari, by there were. The atmos- of faces. the track was lined in many one where Senna crashed. Pole. I am pretty sure he was this time in my career my phere was electric and full The track is one of my places by steel Armco bar- To win, you would need to behind me in practice, but attitude was that no one was of noise like only the Ital- lasting memories. It was a riers and trees, and putting go through flat out and be in

16 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 17 18 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 19 the right place for the exit. It throttle situation and we totally focused on winning. win.” He was so convinced - someone was close, yellow sure he had filled the tank took more than skill to get were pulling 150mph+. These Before the race, to stop any and convincing that we all - hold your speed and green at the refuelling stop. Defi- this turn right, it also took were not slow those bikes, fighting, he told Spagiari and agreed. And to top it off, he - slow down. We would have nitely an “analog, no excuses” a fair amount of courage or and the tires were absolutely I, “Listen, you and Bruno are said if I won, I could keep to pit for fuel during the race, system. insanity to get through at skinny by today’s standards. going to be first and second. my bike. and again, no signals. We had As we rolled out to the race winning speeds. From Ducati team manager I’d just like you two to agree During the race, there a clear stripe down the side start, all the drama and the bottom of the hill and Fredmano Spairani was and to share the prize money for was no pit board, just three of the fuel tank, which would screaming fans begins to fade, through the turn it was full incredibly determined man first and second when we batons -- Red for danger allow the mechanic to be and by then you’re oblivious

20 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 21 Paul Smart leads Bruno Spaggiari on Imola 200.

to the amount of people I was very aware there was blast past me. Again its just some slow bikes out there. Moreover it was together. Ducati didn’t just want to win they around and you’re on your a whole field of very hungry possible that without first a torturous 200 miles and we were always wanted the bikes first and second, in forma- own. I was looking at the sky competitors just behind me; gear I saved a couple of gear dodging bikes retiring and running out of fuel. tion for the whole race and even for refuel- thinking ‘oh Christ its going I really didn’t want to mess it changes and maybe I couldn’t The attrition rate was pretty high. ling. Ducati wanted it all, and to pull it off to rain’. It was a full stop, up at the first hairpin. have gone through those first We did just one refuel and this was the would be a magnificent achievement, (actually engine running start. When Bruno and I quickly moved gear corners any quicker. The tensest part of the race and just to add to the it would be a miracle). the flag dropped Ago’s MV to the front, but I lost first biggest problem we had was drama, both Spagiari and I came in for fuel at Spaggiari had come past me during the shot off, but I was cautious gear very early on. It always passing the back markers as the same time. It all looked (and was) even race but I had gone straight back past him. as I wanted to keep both the amazed me that Bruno never Imola being a fast track and more spectacular running together up front He didn’t press me again until the last lap clutch and me in one piece. figured that one out and there some slow riders on and then pulling into the pits and refuelling when he tried to ride round the outside of

22 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 23 Bruno Spaggiari and Paul Smart: beside third placeman Walter Villa. me coming out of the Aqua Minerale sec- riding the bike back into pit lane and seeing tion. At that part of the track we were going the faces of the entire race team, especially completely flat out and I saw of his front Taglioni and Spairani. Total elation. They had wheel coming alongside, and to communicate gambled and their bet paid off. my displeasure I just let it drift wide. I didn’t The day was also notable for me in another but thousands and thousands reminded me that I would and it just didn’t do anything see him after that, and when I did look back way – you see it was also my birthday ( April of people surrounded us and get to keep the bike, subject wrong. If I could find a fault I wondered if he had just gone through the 23, 1943). A really good birthday. we just joined in the party. I to me racing at some inter- it would be ground clear- hedge or something. We were a long way was still in my leathers and national meetings in the UK. ance, but my ‘hanging-off’ rid- ahead of everyone else. During the last few After the race so tired and jet lagged, but The Ducati 750 and I went ing style didn’t allow it to laps of the race you could hear the scream- They really made a big fuss about Bruno, me there was no way you were on to win the Hutchinson become a big problem. I still ing voices of the fans above the sound of the and Ducati in Italy. They put our bikes in this going to get any sleep at this 100 at Brands Hatch besting own the bike and have lent it engines. Really impressive fans. big glass-sided truck and us on the top and party. It seemed and entire the then dominant . to the Ducati factory where Bruno and I crossed the finish line first and that evening we had a grand tour around Bolo- city came out to celebrate With the Imola 200 mile it sits proudly in the Ducati second, and I think I relaxed for the first time gna in a long procession of cars honking their this glory for Ducati, Bologna race and subsequent races Museum in Bologna, Italy. since boarding the plane Atlanta. The realiza- horns and waving flags. We stopped for what and Italy. I developed a real affinity tion of what you had done really hit when was to be minute outside the railway station, The next day Spairani for the bike. It was quick

24 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 25 Paul Smart Biography

orn on the 23rd April 1943 at This had a great influence on him and soon Eynsford Kent, within sound as he was 16 he purchased his 1st motorcy- of Brands Hatch. Father was cle, a 350cc rapidly progressing on an engineer who owned a to a 500 BSA and eventually a 650 Triumph. small business which repai- His riding skills developed racing around the Bred almost anything mechanical. Paul did not streets of S/E England in era of the “Rock- share his fathers interests and on leaving ers”. school at the earliest opportunity became a As he was an apprentice at a local boatyard boat builder. on the river Medway money was scarce, At the age of 12 he moved with his parents and any form of competition was out of the to the village of East Farleigh Nr Maidstone question until he was 22. in Kent, were his parents leased a riverside His motorcycling friends rallied round and café with a small boatyard. helped him buy his first race bike, a 125 At weekends motorcyclists collected there Bultaco and a van after he became the fastest in increasing numbers, and with encourage- pupil at the newly formed Charles Mortimer ment from Mr & Mrs Smart became the Racing School in 1964. “Rockers” meeting place in the area. He won the 250 British clubman’s cham-

26 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 27 pionship in 1965 and then in 66/67 obtained which resulted in a lot of top 6 positions in help from many famous names. the British National series. and places in the UK and Europe plus 2nds & ance race at Montelery France on the new In 1966 the Vic Camp 250 Ducati gave Paul Other sponsors followed until in 1968 he 3rds in GPs in Germany, Sweden, Finland. Triumph 3 cylinder Trident was one of the an outstanding class win in the Barcelona 24 was picked up by Joe Frances Motors, the A notable 3rd in the 1969 350 TT behind highlights of 1970 which saw him riding for hour endurance race partnered by Reg Ever- partnership that lasted to 1971 and got him Agostini, and 2nd in the production race on Triumph on the 1st of the Rob North Factory ett and amazingly 3rd overall. firmly established in the UK. a 750 Norton, 1969 saw Paul consistently in Triumph Tridents . In 1967 Vic Camp, the UK importer for They supported him on 250 & 350 Yamahas the top 3 in all 3 classes in the UK. This was a very successful time with many Ducati, sponsored Paul on 250/350 Ducatis and a 500 Seeley on which he had many wins Winning the Bol-d-Or 24 hour endur- UK wins places and Lap Records on the 250,

28 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 29 Paul Smart with Alan Cathcart.

1st attempt by finishing every which of course he won then presented to Paul and 350 and 500 Joe Frances 1971 by qualifying on pole a ride in 1972 for the Ameri- race in a high position win- putting him in the history is on loan to the Ducati bikes plus being the top per- and leading for most of the can, Team Hansen Kawasaki ning at Road Atlanta and the books, the most significant Museum. forming rider on the factory race until retiring on the to compete in the AMA prestigious 250 mile race at race win in his career. There was another ride on Triumph 750 Trident. 49th lap with a holed piston, National Championships, the Ontario California. That same machine was a Ducati in 1972 at the Ital- Winter of 70/71 saw wins at his first appearance. first Englishman to do so. Even in the 1972 Bob bought to England and raced ian GP at Imola on the new and places on the Triumph Again South Africa in the He again qualified on pole at Hansen, team manager of to 4th place at Silverstone 500 V-Twin which resulted in in South Africa riding against winter of 71/72was the scene Daytona on the Kawasaki. Kawasaki, released him to and a remarkable win by half a 4th place after pitting to the all dominating Agostini of great races between Paul He then went on to win ride an unproven machine, a wheel at the Hutchinson fix a broken throttle cable, a and the MV. He made a name and Agostini. the road race class of the the 750 Ducati at the newly 100 meeting at Brands Hatch disappointment after getting for himself at Daytona in These results secured him AMA championship at his constituted Imola 200 race that same year. The Bike was up to a good 2nd position on

30 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 31 Paul and his Ducati Paul Smarte LE.

a remarkably fast machine. 500 GP’s on the new Suzuki square 4 two 1973 saw Paul sign for Suzuki to again con- stroke RG500. The RG 500 was extremely both legs putting him out of an 750 Suzuki’s with moder- UK and Europe plus captain- test the AMA championship, where he won fast but very unreliable and difficult to ride. racing until Ducati gave him ate successes including 3rd ing the famous Match Race one of the 10 rounds plus 8 races in the UK The few GP appearances showed its future a ride at the Imola 200 the at the British GP. 1976 and series for the 2nd time. on a TR 750 Suzuki. potential but without success in 1974. After following April. This was not 1977 saw a sponsorship tie/ 1978 saw the end of Paul’s One of the most notable successes that qualifying on pole at Daytona for the 3rd another Dream Ride and he up with the Lloyds Bowmak- racing career as business year was winning all 3 superbike races at time and winning the Dallas Texas AMA crashed out of 8th place to er finance group on a TZ750 commitments (a motorcycle Silverstone at what was then the European race, (the first time a race had been won break a leg again! Yamaha and a RG500 Suzuki shop) and a young family Superbike Championship. on slick tyres) had several places in the UK, 1975 saw a return to the provided by brother-in law took precedence. 1974 he again signed for Suzuki but this time but unfortunately crashed heavily at Mallory increasingly prestigious MCN . This gave con- to ride in the AMA series plus a few selected Park Race of the Year in September breaking British Superbikes on 500 sistent good places in the

32 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 33 MOTOGIRO ITALIA

by Giuliano Musi

34 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 35 It has been really strong the link between the newspaper Stadio and Ducati

n 30 July 1945 for the Stadio immediately gained a solid base of first time the sports readers precisely because it explained, with newspaper Stadio, which ample space, events that until that moment at the time had a weekly had not had the relevance they deserved in frequency, was put on political newspapers. Osale in the newsstands of Bologna. Almost It is no coincidence that the interest was immediately, given its success, it became directed in particular to some sports that twice a week, then three times a week and in had already imposed Italy on a world and a few months even daily, extending its diffu- Olympic level. sion to the entire Emilia-Romagna region. Stadio reported top football, cycling and In the years immediately after the war, the boxing appointments with great services, but “thirst for knowledge” of the population was its first creator-director (Luigi Chierici) had enormous, not only for the facts of daily life the great intuition to dedicate considerable and politics, but also for sports. space to engines as well. It was almost taken

36 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 37 The pages of the newspaper Stadio announcing the Motogiro. Above the Ducati team that took part in the 1955 Motogiro.

for granted that this would group it was only Ducati that attention that the newspaper happen because Bologna lived a parallel life with Stadio, Stadio has had towards him, has always been the number not only because Ducati Mec- since the first steps taken one of engines with Ferrari canica was also born from with the production of the (born in a notary’s office in the ashes of the SSR after Cucciolo and later with the Via Montegrappa), Maserati, the total destruction of the decisive entry into the world Osca, Abarth, ATS, Morini, Borgo Panigale factory dur- of competition, at the highest Italmoto, Maserati, Ducati, ing the Second World War levels, with the Marianna. Mondial and Italjet. and its subsequent recon- It was a lucky coincidence However, in this fantastic struction, but also for the that both in Stadio and

38 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 39 In the center, Fabio Taglioni, on the right Dr. Montano: they are celebrating Ducati successes at the 1956 Motogiro.

in Ducati there were managers projected signature in the engine sector, and Aldo Mon- towards the future, executives who, also tano, general manager, and Giorgio Monetti, driven by the desire to dream, immediately head of communication for Ducati. 1946) and the title of Emilia-Romagna cham- inside the factory in Via Gramsci where the understood how much the two realities, edi- A convergence of interests that obviously pion, obtained on the Giardini Margherita newspaper saw the light. torial and mechanical, could have achieved in benefited from the impulse given by the track thanks to the mechanic-pilot Recchia De Deo Ceccarelli proposed to the direc- full harmony. creative genius of engineer Taglioni, capable of riding a Cucciolo developed by him, was tor Chierici to organize an international The men who celebrated the Ducati-Stadio churning out winning motorcycles in bursts brought back by Stadio as proof that even a motorcycle competition: the aim was to make wedding were Luigi Chierici, editor of the that attracted the attention of the media. city event it would have a regional breadth. two wheels known to the whole of Italy, a newspaper, and De Deo Ceccarelli, the first The first Ducati victory (November 1st, The great Motogiro operation was born country that in those years was perfecting

40 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 41 Bruno Spaggiari.

Giuliano Maoggi. its great economic revival; a er to which the project was appeared on the newspaper qualitative leap that allowed proposed, which received even created traffic jams in even the less affluent classes immediate acceptance, the center of Bologna on the to purchase motorcycles and also because it would have occasion of the controls of cars. allowed affirmed Cucciolo the motorcycles that would always followed by hundreds interesting solutions on their Unfortunately, the tragedy In a few days the idea was and the future “Marianna”, to have raced at the Motogiro. of enthusiasts and private vehicles. of De Portago at the Mille accepted and the organiza- make themselves known as The Ducati squadron, mechanics who they wanted The performance of the Miglia (which prompted the tion of the first Motogiro winning bikes, a springboard which over the years made to admire the Ducatis that Cucciolo, capable of incredi- government to ban open began immediately, which for a large-scale production a clean sweep of awards and had just come out of Tagli- ble averages for its structure, road competitions) deprived saw the light in 1953. that was then fully conse- records with Maoggi, Degli oni’s racing department to also caused a sensation and Stadio and the Ducati of the Ducati was obviously the crated. Antoni and others, when it discover their secrets and, if gave rise to endless discus- fantastic Motogiro race, which first motorcycle manufactur- The series of articles that arrived in Via Gramsci was possible, bring back the most sions in the pubs. together with the Milan-

42 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 43 Above, the Ducati 175 T of 1957. In the opposite page, the world tour celebration of Tartarini and Monetti riding the 175.

Taranto was considered the greatest Italian Motogiro, brought great visibility, opened new motorcycle sporting event. markets, especially in countries in the Mid- It was a very hard blow that however Tar- dle East and allowed Ducati to achieve very tarini (helped by his friend Monetti) and the interesting production numbers. general manager Montano managed in part to The prolonged trips of Farnè and Villa to replace with the organization of the Giro del the headquarters of the Berliner importers Mondo which on the Stadio had almost daily were also brilliant with almost weekly win- widespread echo thanks to the press releases ning releases on the most established tracks created by Nepoti and Cara- NCRs achieved thanks to of fact always created by sent by Monetti; report that the general man- in the States, successes that Stadio reported, cchi, which was based not far the extraordinary results Taglioni. ager Montano delivered to all the editorial albeit a few days later, not having its own cor- from Borgo Panigale. of Recchia and Farnè who, All of Ducati’s winning epic offices of the major Italian newspapers. respondent in the USA. This operation was also having completed their time in the World Championship, The Giro del Mondo, also wanted to give Another stroke of genius was to transfer, followed by Stadio which with Ducati, went to NCR to with Artusi’s first points in meaning to the realization of the 175 that after the ban on racing on open roads, the brought to the fore the develop and give the winning Monza, then Degli Antoni, would have had to fight in the suppressed Ducati racing department to the NCR team great results that the Ducati- sprint to the motorcycles Gandossi, Spaggiari, Taveri,

44 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 45 Lucchinelli’s victory in 1988. Hailwood, Read was fol- it clear that Taglioni’s latest highlighted the potential of lowed closely by this news- addition would be a bad cus- the vehicles they used in paper, which also dedicated a tomer for everyone. Superbike projection. by step, and unfortunately and creative level. from the difficult post Covid report to Degli Antoni’s first Even the trip to the United Stadio-Ducati was a solid also economic suffering. The unstoppable technical moment) does not seem to success in Swedish Grand States in the Eighties, with partnership and for decades Fortunately, the priva- development of the means of have existential problems. Prix. the bursting successes of the Bolognese newspaper tization of Ducati has led, communication and informa- The hope is that just as The race that took place Lucchinelli in the Battle of was considered the official despite a thousand ups and tion has instead produced a Ducati managed to get out of on the Hedemora circuit was Twins at Daytona, which saw source of the Borgo Pani- downs, to the current solu- profound crisis in the pub- it at the time, Stadio too will not included in the World the birth and the triumphs gale company, because it fol- tion that should not cause lishing sector and even Stadio find the means and the will Championship, but it worked of Ducati in Superbike, were lowed its growth, sporting further anxiety, ensuring a is paying heavily, while Duca- to ensure a smooth future. well as a running-in and made followed by Stadio which has and commercial success step rosy future on an economic ti on the contrary (apart

46 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 47 DUCATI DESMOSEDICI RR

48 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 49 THE GENESIS OF THE DUCATI DESMOSEDICI PROJECT

ithout a shadow pany to confirm its tradition of manufacturing of doubt, courage, successful, high-performance, four-stroke rac- ambition, pride, ing motorcycles. ingenuity and heri- 2003 saw the Italian manufacturer make a tage all form the spectacular return to the Moto GP with a Wbasis of the Ducati Desmosedici project. project that had begun two years earlier and This important venture has simultaneously which had been developed by the Bologna marked the return of Ducati to the MotoGP manufacturer’s racing department. World Championship, and enabled the com- While still fully committed to Superbike

50 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 51 diately obtain surprising results. Ducati is fully regulations that give twin-cylinder machines a racing, Ducati was also Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse tant evolution over the Ducati committed to this project, which has allowed us considerable weight reduction over four, five embarking on this exciting Director General - is best Superbike and is the result to grow quickly and transfer new technology to or six-cylinder bikes. new challenge, taking part in expressed as total integration of new design techniques that our streetbike product range, which as a result However, detailed analysis, including numer- the MotoGP World Champi- between engine, chassis and have allowed us to integrate has become increasingly reliable, thrilling and ous computer simulations, indicated that a onship for four-stroke pro- rider. This basic concept has ‘virtual’ modelling and analysis high-performance”. twin-cylinder engine would just not have totype machines with the been our philosophy from the with our considerable racing At first, Ducati’s MotoGP technicians been able to produce the required amount of Ducati Marlboro Team. very moment that we decided experience. This has speeded had considered the possibility of creating power (more than 230 HP), without exces- “The philosophy of the Ducati to tackle this new challenge. up design and development a MotoGP ‘super-twin’, a latest-generation sively increasing the number of revs. A Twin Desmosedici project - declared The bike represents an impor- time and enabled us to imme- V-Twin prototype, taking advantage of the would have had to rev at over 17,000 rpm,

52 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 53 but this would require a very short stroke proved to be the path to follow. The engine and a very large bore, as a result producing was called Desmosedici because its 16 valves possible combustion problems. were controlled by the desmo valve train Ducati therefore opted for a brand-new system, a key factor in Ducati’s numerous V4 engine, which continued the traditional successes on the track. layout of its 90° L-Twin engines, together with The tried and tested V-90° layout offers a desmodromic valve control. number of advantages that have contributed This marriage of tradition and innovation to Ducati’s success on the track and allowed

54 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 55 56 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 57 the Desmosedici project reliability. Ducati Corse produced two decided to use the first con- aimed at excellence in per- Superbike. to achieve major results. The desmodromic system, versions of the Desmosedici figuration. formance through innovative In May 2004, during the The layout of the cylinders designed for Ducati by the engine, one with a regular fir- Subsequently, starting from choices, such as the chassis of spectacular World Ducati guarantees perfect primary legendary engineer Fabio ing order, and the other with the 2004 Dutch TT at Assen, its bikes. While other manu- Week, the mega-meeting engine balance, an important Taglioni, uses rockers both paired cylinders firing simul- thanks to the evolution of facturers raced with different held every couple of years characteristic for an engine to close and open the valves, taneously (Twin pulse). the engine, the irregular fir- versions of an aluminium box that attracts Ducati enthusi- that is required to rev up and this allows the engine to It soon became clear that ing Twin pulse version was frame, the Desmosedici had asts from all over the world, to 17,000 rpm with mini- function with extraordinary the latter version put the used which gave better a tubular steel trellis struc- Ducati made an announce- mum vibration, thus improv- precision at all rpm. engine components through driveability. ture, similar to the one used ment that many had been ing mechanical efficiency and For the first 2002 tests, excessive strain, so it was Ducati has also always with great success in World eagerly awaiting: The devel-

58 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 59 ment for its first reliability work began on the aerody- first ever road-going motor- and durability tests. namics and the livery - which, cycle to offer the stunning Thus the new engine was also from an aesthetic view- performance of a MotoGP put through the first “in point, is absolutely identical machine! In the meantime opment of the Desmosedi- sedici RR project and, once forecast of three hundred motoring” and “in firing” to the bike used on race Vittoriano Guareschi, the ci Racing Replica, a road- again, Ducati wanted to share motorcycles would be sur- tests, designed to assess the tracks. official test rider of the bike version of the Italian this significant and exciting passed with extreme ease. duration and strength of the The definitive version was MotoGP Desmosedici, con- MotoGP contender that has moment with its fans and its Before long, the project had various components in view presented at Mugello on the tinued with on-track evalua- fired up the enthusiasm of public. started to take shape and just of the stresses generated by eve of the 2006 Italian GP. tion, giving the development fans around the world, was Orders started to flow in five months later, the new such a powerful engine. At the unveiling, the aggres- team a valuable helping hand now underway and would immediately and keen inter- L-four desmodromic engine With the contribution of sive, streamlined design and in putting the finishing touch- soon be available for sale. est from Ducati fans made it was sitting on the test bench Alan Jenkins, the designer the applied technical solu- es to this gem of technology Thus began the Desmo- clear that the initial company at the Ducati R&D depart- of the MotoGP Desmosedici, tions stunned everyone: the and style.

60 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 61 2007 had seen the debut of the Desmo- who formed the very heart of the fifth edition ordered this esoteric motor- bly line exclusively dedicated tined to celebrate this pres- sedici GP7 – characterised by revolutionary of World Ducati Week. cycle. All of the latter, in fact, to the Desmosedici RR has tigious race category’s era of changes to race rules that limit cylinder The first few laps were rightly notched up had been invited to witness been set up at the Borgo maximum engine size (1000 capacity from 1000 to 800 cc; yet 2007 would by Vittoriano Guareschi, who opened up the this first official outing and Panigale factory. cc) and establish a new also see the Desmosedici RR hit the track. throttle and let the mighty L-four really roar see and touch the object of The Ducati Desmosedici milestone in terms of Ital- It made its debut at Misano in front of – to the absolute delight of the public and their desire for themselves. RR was the first and only ian technology, components, 50,000 Ducati fans from all over the world the over 1000 purchasers who had already In the meantime, an assem- true MotoGP replica, des- performance and style.

62 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 MD DOSSIER 63 64 MD DOSSIER OCTOBER 2020