1972 DUCATI IMOLA 750 RACER
BUILT BY DUCATI MECCANICA S.p.A.
FROM BOLOGNA, ITALY
COURTESY OF JOHN L. STEIN
PHOTOS BY TED7
The Ducati race team rolled into the 1972 Imola 200 race (the “Italian Daytona”) with seven silver V-twin racers in a glass-sided transporter, creating a stir of excitement. That turned to wild enthusiasm when Paul Smart famously won the race on one of these hand-built factory V-twin racers, the first ever with desmodromic valve operation. This machine was one of those seven, and remarkably retains its original “silver shotgun” finish, making it one of the most historic Ducatis in existence.
748cc desmodromic overhead camshaft, 5-speed, 359lbs, 84hp @9000rpm, 150mph top speed
7 built in 1972
