Racing forms the lifeblood of the Ducati marque, and every significant street Ducati has been derived from a racing machine. Central to this emphasis on racing has been chief engineer Fabio Taglioni and his commitment to desmodromic valve gear. Here is the full story of Ducati’s involvement in road racing, from their first successful racer, the 98cc Marianna of 1955, to the four-valve V-Twin World Superbike machines which have dominated in World Superbike racing since the late eighties, becoming the most successful of all racing Ducatis.1946: Ducati introduces a 4-stroke 48cc clip-on engine for bicycles, the "Cucciolo" or "pup" in Italian.
1954: Ingegnere Fabio Taglioni starts work at Ducati.
1955: The Tagioni designed 100cc single-cylinder Gran Sport is intoduced and wins numerous long-distance events.
1956: Ducati introduces the desmodromic engine. The 125cc factory GP racer is ridden by Gianni degli Antoni and wins the Swedish GP, it's first race.
1966: Carl's Mach 1 comes off the Ducati assembly line! Carl is only 4 years old, but the bike is destined to be his!
1970: Ducati builds it's first V-twin engine, the 90x 750 GT, with bevel-drive cams. "Bevels" become revered by enthusiasts everywhere.
1972: Ducati introduces the V-twin desmo, the 750 SuperSport. Bikes ridden by Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari take 1st and 2nd in the 750SS debut.
1974-82: Ducati builds vertical twins. These are never accepted by the Ducatisti.
1978: Mike Hailwood returns from retirement to race a 900 SS and wins the Isle of Man.
1978: The famous Pantah engine is introduced. This 500cc desmo V-twin engine, designed by Ing. Taglioni, features belt driven cams. The "rubber band" engine is the foundation of a new line of V-twins from Ducati.
1978: Ing. Massimo Bordi is hired by Ducati.
1981: Carl buys his first motorcycle, a 1976 Kawasaki KH 250 two stroke triple. (Why is this in Ducati history?)
1982: Ing. Taglioni retires after a fabulous career.
1982: Carl sells his KH250 to his dad and upgrades to a 1977 Kawasaki KH 400... bigger, but still not a Ducati...
1983: Carl totals the KH400, is uninjured, and gets a brand new old stock 1981 Suzuki GS450E, a sporty 4-stroke twin. Still not a Ducati...
May 1, 1985: Cagiva buys Ducati. The Castiglioni brothers take control.
1985: The Paso is introduced. Styled by Massimo Tamburini and designed by Bordi it receives many awards for its revolutionary appearance.
1986: Carl buys a 1984 Yamaha RZ350 two stroke, and goes racing! Its not a Ducati, but but it howls like a banshee!
1987: The hot 851 with Ducati's first 4-valve desmo engine is introduced. Ing. Bordi's new engine also features fuel injection and water cooling.
1988: In the 851's debut Superbike World Championship race, Marco Lucchinelli finishes second.
1988: Carl sells the old Suzuki to help suport the racing habit.
1989: Riding a Ducati, Raymond Roche takes second place in the Superbike World Championship.
1989: Carl buys a 1987 Honda CBR600 Hurricane street bike. Fast, but STILL not a Ducati!
1990: Riding a Ducati, Raymond Roche wins the Superbike World Championship.
1990: Carl retires from roadracing, after thousands of mis-spent dollars, and one too many hard crashes. Ducati misses out on a rising star talent, and has to make do with Doug Polen for 1991.
1991: Riding a Ducati, Doug Polen wins the Superbike World Championship.
1991: Carl moves from Boston to sunny California, where the riding is always warm.
1992: Riding a Ducati, Doug Polen wins the Superbike World Championship.
1993: Carl sells his old RZ350 race bike.
1993: Riding a Ducati, Carl Fogarty takes second place in the Superbike World Championship.
1993: Carl is reborn into the Italian motorcycle world and buys his 1992 750SS! The old Hurricane is soon sold off.
1993: Riding a Ducati, Doug Polen wins the AMA Superbike Championship.
1994: Riding a Ducati, Carl Fogarty wins the Superbike World Championship.
1995: Riding a Ducati, Carl Fogarty wins the Superbike World Championship.
1995: Carl buys his 1966 Mach 1 project bike! Will it ever be completed?
September 30, 1996: The Castiglioni brothers sell 51% of Ducati to the Texas Pacific Group. But they keep the option to buy back 2%. The compani is renamed DucatI Motor SpA.
1996: Riding a Ducati, Troy Corser wins the Superbike World Championship.
1997: Carl still at work on Mach 1 project bike...
