Top left: Romolo Ferris came second in the 1958 Isle of Man TT on a 125, three-camshaft Desmo
Right right: Ducati Mach 1 1964 Bottom left: GT750, beginning of the big bike Ducatis in 1971
Bottom right: Bruno Spaggiari on a 500cc twin leading Giacomo Agostini’s three-cylinder MV
Augusta in 1971
a year, but racing success, which was vital at
the time, was sadly lacking.
It seemed that what the company lacked
in experience was bolstered by enthusiasm.
There were some talented riders coming
into their prime, and a man whose name and
exploits, will survive for as long as people care
about the history and development of classic
motorcycles, Fabio Taglioni. Many remember
him as the father of Ducati’s golden era.
When he first joined Ducati he was a 35-year
old designer and development engineer, with
a reputation for getting things right the first
time. He remained the top design engineer
at Ducati for many years. Racing triumphs,
Desmo valve gear, and many of the things
that contributed to the Ducati legend, came
from his pen and drawing board.
In 1955 Taglioni responded to a company call
for a machine that would win long distance
events. The result was the Gran Sport 100, a
four-stroke single-cylinder, air cooled
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